Nicosia: Cyprus and the Mediterranean are recognized as the most vulnerable climate hotspots in the world, already facing hotter and drier summers, said the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, on Monday, at the International Conference on Meteorology, Climatology, and Atmospheric Physics (COMECAP 2025).
According to Cyprus News Agency, Rural Development and Environment Ministry, COMECAP 2025, hosted in Nicosia from September 29 to October 1, is the 17th edition of the Conference and a leading scientific meeting in the field of geosciences. The conference is organized by the Hellenic Meteorological Society and hosted by the Eratosthenes Center of Excellence at the Cyprus University of Technology, in collaboration with the Cyprus Meteorological Department and other bodies, bringing together researchers, scientists, and academics from Greece, Cyprus, Europe, and international organizations. This is the second time that Cyprus has hosted COMECAP, following the successful event in 2004, highlighting the country’s role as a hub for scientific cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is noted.
Panayiotou said that hosting the conference for the second time in Cyprus underlines the key role of the country in the region as a hub for dialogue and innovation in the atmospheric sciences. She pointed out that “climate change, extreme weather events, air quality, renewable energy sources, and sustainable management of natural resources are not distant concerns but real challenges for Cyprus and the Mediterranean.”
“Our region is among the most vulnerable climate ‘hotspots’ in the world, already facing hotter and drier summers, more frequent droughts, and increasing risks for agriculture, ecosystems, and public health,” she added. Explaining that this is why COMECAP 2025 is particularly important for Cyprus, the Minister noted, among other things, that Cyprus is responding to these challenges with determination and concrete steps.
“We are investing in agrometeorological services to better support our farmers, expanding the use of technology and digital tools to monitor and manage natural resources, and strengthening cooperation with universities and research centres, both nationally and internationally,” she noted. “Our policies aim to combine scientific knowledge with practical solutions -securing food production, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring water sustainability,” she further noted, adding that the conference is “a bridge between cutting-edge research and the practical policies needed to build resilience in our societies,” Panayiotou said.
In closing, Panayiotou expressed her confidence that “the discussions and exchanges that will take place here will not only enrich our understanding of meteorology and climatology, but will also inspire practical actions that make a real difference for our communities -transforming today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.”
COMECAP 2025, a leading scientific platform for the exchange of knowledge and research results in the fields of meteorology, climatology, and atmospheric physics, aims to serve as a meeting point for science, politics, and society. Its goal is to strengthen cooperation in addressing climate change and to promote the development of innovative solutions for the benefit of citizens. The conference topics include climate change and its socio-economic impacts, the management of extreme weather events and natural disasters, air quality and environmental sustainability, renewable energy sources and energy transition, and the impact of the climate crisis on agriculture, ecosystems, and public health, the announcement concludes.