The Cyprus Government’s action plan for implementing its National Strategy for Sustainable Development was unveiled by Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Photis Photiou on 7 October. In line with the EU framework, the plan focuses on combining environmental protection with social cohesion and economic progress.

The Cyprus Government’s action plan for implementing its National Strategy for Sustainable Development was unveiled by Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Photis Photiou on 7 October. In line with the EU framework, the plan focuses on combining environmental protection with social cohesion and economic progress.

The challenges to be faced in achieving these goals, as set out in the plan, include climate change, energy use, threats to public health, poverty and social exclusion, population pressures, the management of natural resources, the loss of biodiversity, land use and transport.

Specific goals include energy saving through the introduction of natural gas to replace oil for electricity generation, the development of renewable energy sources and the improvement of public transport. Social cohesion targets include improved health care, population renewal, increased productivity in the public sector and more employment opportunities, especially for women. The aim is to increase the employment level of those of working age to 71 per cent by 2010 (63 per cent for women).

Mr Photiou said that the Government would draw up a set of performance indicators by which to evaluate progress made on achieving the plan’s targets and to enable corrective measures to be introduced where necessary.