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Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean are among the world’s most climate-sensitive regions, already experiencing hotter, drier summers, the island’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, said Monday.
Speaking at the International Conference on Meteorology, Climatology, and Atmospheric Physics (COMECAP 2025), Panayiotou emphasized that the country is taking proactive steps to address the growing environmental challenges.
“Climate change, extreme weather, air quality, renewable energy, and the sustainable management of natural resources are not distant issues—they are pressing challenges for Cyprus and the Mediterranean,” she said. “Our region faces rising risks for agriculture, ecosystems, and public health due to more frequent droughts and hotter, drier summers.”
Panayiotou outlined initiatives underway in Cyprus, including investments in agrometeorological services, the adoption of advanced digital tools to manage natural resources, and closer collaboration with national and international universities and research centers. She said these measures aim to secure food production, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure sustainable water resources.
“COMECAP 2025 serves as a bridge between cutting-edge research and practical policies that build resilience in our communities,” Panayiotou added. “The discussions here will help transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.”
The conference, running Sept. 29–Oct. 1 in Nicosia, is the 17th edition of the event and a major scientific gathering in the geosciences. Hosted by the Eratosthenes Center of Excellence at the Cyprus University of Technology, in partnership with the Cyprus Meteorological Department and other organizations, it brings together researchers and academics from Cyprus, Greece, Europe, and beyond. This marks the second time Cyprus has hosted COMECAP, following the 2004 conference.
COMECAP 2025 focuses on the socio-economic impacts of climate change, extreme weather and disaster management, air quality, renewable energy, and the effects of climate stress on agriculture, ecosystems, and public health. Organizers said the conference aims to strengthen collaboration, foster innovation, and promote solutions that benefit society at large.
