In order to effectively address the current environmental crisis, the active participation, involvement and support of civil society and Non-Governmental Organizations is required, President of the House of Representatives, Annita Dimitriou, said Friday.
Demetriou, who chaired a session on the sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on the ‘Environment for Europe’ in Nicosia, said that the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental issues in the EU is of particular importance, as it is one of the most comprehensive tools to ensure the access of citizens and organised groups to decision-making centers regarding the environment.
According to an official press release, Demetriou underlined the essential contribution that the Parliaments must have in the ratification and implementation of the Convention. She pointed out that the role of the Parliaments is not simply limited to the formation of the legislative framework, but also extends to the control of the implementation of the provisions of the Convention, in order to ensure transparency in the decision-making process and the active participation of citizens.
She recalled that Cyprus joined the Aarhus Convention in 2003 and since then has put environmental issues among its priorities.
Concluding she noted the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus to undertake a coordinating role in addressing climate change in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Source: Cyprus News Agency