Climate action in Cyprus: Latest state of play

Summary:

The EU's binding climate and energy legislation for 2030 requires Member States to adopt national energy and climate plans (NECPs) covering the 2021 to 2030 period. In October 2020, the European Commission published an assessment for each NECP. Cyprus submitted its NECP in January 2020. A high proportion of Cypriots (70 %) expect national governments to tackle climate.

Cyprus accounts for 0.26 % of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has reduced its emissions at a slower pace than the EU average since 2005. The carbon intensity of the Cypriot economy decreased by close to 25 % between 2005 and 2019, at a rate slower than the EU average.

Energy industry emissions fell by 3.7 % in the 2005 to 2019 period in Cyprus. Further emissions reductions are expected as the country shifts its electricity production from heavy fuel oil to natural gas by the end of 2021. Transport and industrial processes and product use were the sectors with the smallest reductions. Under the Effort-sharing Decision for the 2013 2020 period, Cyprus needed to reduce its emissions in sectors not included in the EU's emission trading system by 5 %, compared with 2005 levels. For the Effort-sharing Regulation period (2021-2030) the target is set at -21 % compared with 2005 levels.

The share of renewable energy in Cyprus reached 13.8 % in 2019. The country's 2030 target of a 22.9 % share is focused on changes in the heating and cooling, and electricity sectors.

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