Clik here to view.
Progress in the transport sector will determine whether Cyprus will achieve its new goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis said on Wednesday.
The minister presented before the House environment committee the government’s draft plan on climate and energy for the period 2021 and 2030. The plan forms part of an EU-wide climate and energy framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent (from 2005 levels), increase the share for renewable energy by at least 32 per cent, and improve energy efficiency by at least 32.5 per cent.
Cyprus said it wants to cut greenhouse emissions by 24 per cent, excluding electricity production, cement and brick production.
MPs were told the transport sector contributed 49 per cent, energy, excluding power production, 17 per cent, waste, 14 per cent, agriculture, 12 per cent and industry, 8 per cent.
“The transport share is the most important,” Kadis said. “The contribution in achieving the target is 49 per cent; half our effort must come from transport.”
The minister warned that failure to achieve the goals would mean monetary penalties.
Three scenarios were designed. The first, described as a reference scenario, incorporates all policies adopted until early 2016. The second, a ‘realistic scenario’, assumes the implementation of cost-optimal measures in all economic sectors under a modest deployment of financial resources.
The third is a much more ambitious ‘maximum technical potential scenario’. This assumes an unprecedented mobilisation of financial and human resources that could lead to a deep renovation of all existing buildings and a substantial penetration of alternative fuels in transport.
According to environment department official Theodoulos Mesimeris, the realistic scenario provides for expenditure to reach around €1.2bn between 2021 and 2030, with the state contributing €287m. The maximum potential scenario foresees additional investment amounting €4.2bn, €2.4bn footed by the state, and €2bn going to transport.
The post Transport the focus of govt draft plan on climate and energy appeared first on Cyprus Mail.
