News

Environment commissioner seeks green Christmas

Published

November 22, 2015

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

November 22, 2015

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

All local authorities received a letter, urging them to go green this Christmas, from the national environment commissioner Ioanna Panayiotou, Cyprus Mail reported. She said local self-government in Cyprus needs to keep energy-wasting decorations to a minimum.

“Due to the economic crisis, thousands of our fellow citizens are deprived of the essentials and are experiencing the nightmare of unemployment,” Panayiotou said in a statement. “At the same time, local authorities are preparing to illuminate us with thousands of bulbs in public places to brighten the holiday and create a Christmas atmosphere… But Christmas is a feast of love and not of waste. Illuminating public areas in times of austerity presents us with a challenge.”

Panayiotou said electricity was extremely expensive, polluting and harmful to the environment, and the challenge for Cyprus was to stop wasting energy and turn to energy-saving policies, the use of renewable energy and green development. In the letter to local authorities she suggests they implement an ecological policy this Christmas and to reduce to a minimum the decorative lights or use special energy-saving LED lamps.

She also proposes that the decor on trees be made from recyclable materials as much as possible contributing to raising awareness about reducing, reusing and recycling waste. “In our view, such actions by local authorities will send the right social and environmental messages,” she said.

Related Articles

HELLENiQ Energy buys ABO Energy Hellas 1 5 GW renewables

HELLENiQ Energy buys ABO Energy Hellas, adding 1.5 GW in renewables projects

02 July 2025 - Amid a consolidation in the renewables sector in Greece, HELLENiQ Energysaid it completed the acquisition of ABO Energy Hellas

EU outlines measures for 90 emissions cut by 2040

EU outlines measures for 90% emissions cut by 2040

02 July 2025 - A proposed amendment to the European Climate Law sets a 2040 target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions

battery storage eu solarpower europe bess

SolarPower Europe: EU needs ten times more battery storage by 2030 to meet renewables targets

02 July 2025 - SolarPower Europe has launched an initiative called the Battery Storage Europe Platform to promote battery growth across the EU.

Solaris Holding large hybrid renewable energy park Bulgaria

Solaris Holding launches production at large hybrid renewable energy park in Bulgaria

02 July 2025 - The new Selanovtsi solar farm of 59.8 MW in peak capacity near Vratsa was installed alongside a battery energy storage system of 107.3 MWh in capacity