Addressing the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday called for coordinated international action to tackle climate change.

He emphasised that the need to urgently address climate change issues was particularly acute in the Mediterranean, which he described as increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.

Christodoulides said that countries in the region, including Cyprus, “are facing heightened risks from rising temperatures, severe droughts, wildfires and destructive floods, most recently seen in Spain.”

He said such events directly impact local economies, natural ecosystems and the quality of life for communities.

Highlighting Cyprus’ experiences, he said the most recent climate-related incidents underline the need for immediate, targeted measures at national and regional levels.

The COP29 summit, held under the UN framework, serves as a platform for countries to coordinate climate strategies and review progress under the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global temperature rise within 1.5C.

Christodoulides said that achieving this target requires “collective urgency and ambition” and a substantial increase in global efforts.

Cyprus implemented a National Adaptation Strategy in 2017 to strengthen and increase the island’s adaptive capacity to climate change impacts.

The strategy, now being updated, seeks to improve the country’s ability to handle complex climate risks.

Christodoulides acknowledged Cyprus’ relatively small carbon footprint but reiterated the island’s commitment to contributing to global emissions reductions. He also highlighted that Cyprus in 2020 pledged a 55 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

The EU as a whole is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, which the President said Cyprus supports as part of its broader climate commitments.

On the regional front, Christodoulides discussed the relaunch of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative, which promotes cross-border projects to mitigate climate impacts.

He mentioned Cyprus’ ongoing collaboration with Jordan to establish a regional aerial firefighting station in Cyprus, aimed at combating wildfires that have become more frequent and severe across the Mediterranean. Other initiatives focus on marine protection, sustainable agricultural water management, and increased cooperation among Mediterranean states to address drought.

The President stressed that government action alone would not suffice and urged greater involvement from people, businesses, and society as a whole. He advocated for investments in green technologies, renewable energy, and industrial decarbonisation, suggesting these measures would foster competitive, resilient markets.

Christodoulides also acknowledged the role of youth in driving climate action, describing young voices as “instrumental” in advocating for an ambitious climate agenda. He called on global leaders to listen to and address the concerns of younger generations to avoid leaving them with a “climate and natural dystopia”.

The COP29 summit in Baku aims to finalise agreements on climate resilience and sustainable development pathways. Christodoulides concluded by saying he hopes that a “forward-looking outcome could emerge from the conference, with clear steps toward building resilient and sustainable societies”.