Seminar highlights ‘Eco-Schools’ impact on Cyprus SDG progress

The Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) successfully organised an innovative hybrid (live and digital) seminar, for all schools participating in the Cyprus-wide ‘Eco-Schools’ programme, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (MOEC), sponsored by the Hellenic Bank. The seminar was held under the auspices of Environment Commissioner Klelia Vasiliou.

Eco-Schools is the largest global sustainable schools programme: it starts in the classroom and expands to the community by engaging the next generation in action-based learning.

Andreas Papadopoulos on behalf of Hellenic Bank and CYMEPA, and inspector Dr. Panayiota Mylona representing MOEC, welcomed participating teachers from 50 Eco-Schools, while expressing strong support for the programme.

Hellenic Bank has proudly supported the Eco-Schools initiative for over 20 years, noted Papadopoulos, and looks forward to further actions to protect the environment. “Cyprus has a long way to go to achieve the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and we will contribute as much as we can to meet our targets, as this will make our country more competitive and productive and of course environmentally friendly,” he added.

Kyriakos Siakallis from the Environment Commissioner’s office thanked CYMEPA, in particular Secretary General Michalis Ieridis, as well as the Ministry of Education, while congratulating Hellenic Bank for the hospitality and support offered to the Eco-Schools drive for 24 years.

“Of course, Hellenic Bank not only supports Eco-Schools, as, through its Corporate Social Responsibility, it backs several actions under all pillars of Sustainable Development (economy, environment, society), contributing to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” Siakallis continued.

According to the UN Report, Cyprus ranks 40th among 165 countries with a score of 74.9. It has achieved two goals (1,4). It has made progress in six goals (3,5,6,7,8,16), but has not yet achieved them.

For five of the goals (2,9,10,11,15), significant challenges remain, while there are four goals (12,13,14,17) where the result was reduced, and immediate and urgent actions are required to reverse the climate.

By adopting the principles of the Circular Economy, where it has a high impact on many of the objectives such as energy, economic growth, sustainable consumption and production, climate change can greatly improve the performance of Cyprus.