Climate crisis, a health emergency

Stella Kyriakides

On December 1, 2019, Ms. Kyriakides assumed the role of European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

In the realm of health, she spearheads the Commission’s efforts on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, aiming to enhance cancer prevention and care. Additionally, she is developing a new Pharmaceutical Strategy to ensure Europe's access to affordable medicines.

Her duties extend to aiding Member States in enhancing health system quality and sustainability, establishing a European Health Data Space for health-data exchange, and supporting research. She's also responsible for enforcing the European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance and advocating for a global agreement on antimicrobials.

Regarding food safety, Commissioner Kyriakides is leading the new 'Farm to Fork' strategy, ensuring sustainability across the food chain. She also enforces animal welfare laws, promotes European standards globally, and ensures adherence to EU laws on food safety, and animal and plant health. Additionally, she oversees initiatives to safeguard plant health, reduce pesticide dependency, and promote non-chemical alternatives.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, she coordinates the EU’s health response, facilitating the flow of essential goods and services across borders and ensuring the availability of essential medicines and medical devices. She leads efforts to secure access to safe therapeutics and vaccines.

Before her commissioner role, Ms. Kyriakides served as a clinical psychologist in Cyprus' Mental Health Services, specializing in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from 1979 to 2006. She later served in the Cyprus Parliament from 2006 to 2016 and held leadership roles in the Democratic Rally party. In 2012, she led the Cyprus Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and was elected President of the Assembly in 2017. She also founded and served as President of Europa Donna - Cyprus, an advocacy organization for breast cancer awareness.

The Green Agenda Cyprus Summit

The purpose of the Green Agenda Cyprus Summit, held for the first time in Cyprus, is to support the efforts towards Cyprus' Green Transition, aiming to make our country an example of ecological living and sustainable development.

The Green Agenda Cyprus Summit will host influential leaders from the nation's business community, alongside keynote speakers of international renown who will captivate and motivate the audience. Notably, the government's participation will underscore the importance of its role in shaping the vision and strategies for the green transition. Deliberations and presentations will center on the critical examination of climate change risks and their far-reaching effects on human life, the financial sector, industry, real estate, and insurance.

The production of renewable energy sources, storage, and optimal smart distribution, financing the green transition, sustainability, and the evolution of the food production chain, as well as waste management, will all be at the heart of the Green Agenda Cyprus Summit 2024.

The Green Agenda Cyprus Summit will take place on May 20th at the Hilton Hotel with the support of the Central Bank of Cyprus. Platinum Sponsors include the Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank, Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Astrobank, and Gold Sponsor EY, Dark Horse Cyta, Silver Partner SKLAVENITIS, AUDI, and Ιnvest Cyprus, Energy Partners Eunice Energy Group and team Green Energy. The conference is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment.

For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.cy