LG Action - Country Profile Collection

CYPRUS

This document reflects the current status on: • Government levels and departments responsible for / working with local governments (LGs). • Main national climate and energy relevant legislation and strategies that impact / has potential to impact cities and towns (also identifying what is legally not possible or difficult)., • National LG networks / associations’ support for local climate and energy action • Potential opportunities to be explored to improve the roll-out of local climate and energy action • A summary on the LG and their networks / associations’ interest and involvement in the Roadmap and advocacy processes.

A. CONTEXT 1. Levels of government and roles: Basic inter-relationship and impact (potential impact for action)

Level: Character: Mandates / responsibilities / roles: National Presidential Republic 1,102,677 inhabitants (2010) (incl North) Island country 9,251 km 2 ) (includes the North) 6 districts The District Commissioner is the head of Districts authorities competences are the District and chief coordinator for the related to the Ministry of Interior activities of all Ministries in the District. activities. More than 350 The Council of the Community is elected The communities represent the national communities by the community population for a five- government link between the year mandate. It represents the administrative activities and all the legislative body and is composed of a technical work with the districts. President, Vice President and three other members, also elected for five years. 33 municipalities There are two different types of local Main responsibilities of municipalities: authorities in : which are • 7 municipalities - construction, maintenance and governed by separate laws - have signed up to lighting of streets, municipalities (in urban and tourist the Covenant of 2 - collection, disposal & treatment of 1 areas) and communities (in rural areas). Mayors (July 2011) waste, Municipal Council members are elected for a five-year mandate. Main - protection and improvement of the competences are related to provide environment assistance and advice to the Mayor in - appearance of municipal areas e.g. the execution of his duties as well as to construction, development and coordinate the work of other maintenance of municipal gardens / commissions. parks The Mayor manages the executive - protection of public health. board, chairs the Municipal Council and

1 http://www.eumayors.eu/covenant_cities/list_encd43.htm?cc=cy 2 CCRE-CEMR, Secretary General, Local and Regional Structure in Europe , 2005. CCRE-CEMR, Secretary General, Consultation Procedures within European States ; 2007.

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the Administrative Commission. The Mayor represents the municipality in a Court of Law and before any state authority. The main sources of revenue of municipalities are municipal taxes, fees and duties as well as state subsidies but those last revenues count only for a small percentage. The central government, however, usually finances major infrastructure projects undertaken by the municipalities, but this is dependent very much on each individual project 3.

B. NATIONAL / FEDERAL INFORMATION – Climate and Energy Legislation & approach taken by country (name & number of law / regulation together with summary of intent) 2. Main national / federal climate strategies, policy and legislation on 2.1 Climate strategy and policy: - Cyprus ratified the UNFCCC as a non-Annex I party, and the Kyoto Protocol as a non-Annex B party. This means that Cyprus did not have any limitations or obligations regarding greenhouse gases emissions under the international regime. However, in December 2008, through the EU climate and energy package, Cyprus has been allocated with the reduction target of 5% compared to 2005 by 2020 for sectors not included in the Emissions Trading (Decision 406/2009/EC on the effort of Member States to reduce their to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020). These include among other the sectors of transport, agriculture, waste, buildings etc. - A consistent climate strategy for the period after 2020 has not yet been developed and thus, the path to a low-carbon economy in Cyprus is not paved yet. - The projected impacts of climate change in Cyprus according to the models of the IPCC expect Cyprus to experience severe desertification within the next 100 years due to increasing temperatures and further reduction of precipitation. - Emission of greenhouse gases without LULUCF (land use, land use change and forestry) increased by 93.6% between 1990 and 2008, which corresponds to GHG emissions of 4,932 Gg CO 2 equivalents. 76% of the emissions without LULUCF in 2008 were from the sector of energy, compared to 67.5% in 1990. The increase is caused primarily by the increase in the emissions from road transport 4. 2.2 Climate Legislation: - See energy section. 2.3 Energy policy and legislation: - In 2008, renewable energy sources contribute 4.5% to the total energy consumption in Cyprus compared to 1.9% in 1997. The aim is to reach 13% by 2020 which is the new target allocated to Cyprus through Directive 2009/28/EC. - The current policy framework, including a feed-in tariff for RES-E, runs from 2009-2013 and has the target to reach a 9% renewable energy share in electricity generation by 2013. A new

3 http://www.cyprusnet.com/article_cyprus-local-authorities 4 http://www.globserver.com/en/cyprus/climate-change-mitigation

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framework was submitted to the European Commission in 2010, covering the period from 2013- 2020 for the target of 13% of RES-E in electricity production 5. - Listed below emissions reduction options are listed per sector:

(1st line with measures / 2 nd line - where listed - shows with additional measures)

Policy A. ELECTRICITY GENERATION A1. RES Constant 6% from 2010 From 5% in 2010, to gradual increase to 13% by 2020 A2. Natural Gas (NG) Gradual increase of NG in energy from 48% in 2016 to 80% in 2020 Gradual increase of NG in energy from 48% in 2014 to 80% in 2018 A3. Improvement in distribution system Improvement of 0.1% annually -> reduction in emissions from 2008 Improvement of 0.2% annually -> reduction in emissions from 2008

Policy B. RESIDENTIAL AND TERTIARY SECTOR B1. Energy savings 5% constant from 2010 From 5% in 2010 to gradual increase to 20% by 2020

Policy C. INDUSTRY C1. Merging of cement factories Reduction 5% from 2011 Reduction 15% from 2011 C2. Energy savings 5% constant From 5% in 2010 to gradual increase to 20% by 2020 C3. Alternative fuels Increase by 1% annually Increase by 2% annually from 2010

Policy D. TRANSPORT D1. Promotion of small cars in urban transport Constant reduction 0.5% Annual reduction of 0.5% from 2008 D2. Promotion of public transport Constant 2% reduction in emissions Annual decrease in emissions of 0.5% from 2010 D3. Biofuels Constant 0.1% reduction in emissions Gradual increase from 1.5% in 2008 to 10% in 2020 D4. Withdrawal of vehicles older than 20 years old Annual contribution in reduction in emissions of 1% Annual decrease in emissions of 1% from 2010

Policy E. WASTE E1. Recycling Constant at 20% of packaging waste E2. Methane recovery 50% of all controlled (84%) from 2010 E3.Management of uncontrolled disposal sites Annual decrease of GHG by 5% from uncontrolled, from 2010

5 http://www.climatepolicytracker.eu/cyprus

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C. LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGAL MANDATE(S) / RESPONSIBILITIES Legislation and the role of LGs in the specific context of climate change and energy (name and number of law / regulation together with summary) 3. LGs and climate change: Was there a local government reform process? (Change in their roles? Change in government levels?) - ? Do LGs have a legal mandate or responsibility regarding climate change mitigation? - Do LGs have a legal mandate or responsibility to address adaptation/community resilience/disaster prevention? - ? May they participate in carbon off-setting schemes (voluntary or otherwise)? - ?

4. LGs and energy: Do LGs have any mandate and responsibilities regarding local energy production (e.g. regulations, may they establish an ESCO (Energy Service Company)? - After the implementation of the European directives related to energy efficiency, Cyprus also aimed to address the creation of Energy Service Companies and help this market to increase and improve. Do LGs have any mandate and responsibilities regarding buildings and urban planning (e.g. regulations, land sale requirements, Urban Master Plan, etc.)? - ? Mobility? Waste? Water? - ?

D. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – ACTUAL APPROACH What is actually happening at the LG level? (e.g. voluntary engagement as the local impact of climate change is already visible, or awaiting guidance from national level) 5. Motivation for local climate and energy action: Why do LGs respond or plan to respond (is there a specific reason, or various reasons)? - Energy security and impact of climate change. The changing climate has already an impact in the environment of the country. Water scarcity, desertification, increase frequency in wildfires and deteriorating forests are the impacts that Cyprus has already experienced.

6. Local climate action: What do LGs do? How do they respond (different levels of municipality engaged? Different departments active, with one department leading? Overall strategy or ad hoc responses?) - Is climate change resilience / adaptation directly addressed (even if not mandate exists)? -

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7. Local energy action: Estimate how many LGs are actively engaged in switching to sustainable energy - Few Estimate how many LGs have already developed an Action Plan (energy, mobility, waste,) - Few Estimate how many are starting up in this field - Growing interest Is there any development of implementing new regulations to conform to national or EU legislation or directives (e.g. EPBD - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive ). - Cyprus started with the implementation of this directive but most of the problems are related to the lack of experiences in this field.

8. Role of national LG association(s) in support of members All national and thematic local government associations and networks - organisation name{s}, number of members, any established conservation of resources, etc.. - The Union of Cyprus Municipalities is the main association of Local Authorities in Cyprus, and represents 33 members - accounting for 65 % of the population of Cyprus. The Union's main functions are to contribute to the development of local government autonomy, as well as to act as spokesman of local government interests vis-à-vis the central government and other national institutions. It also takes an active stand in the evolving relations of Cyprus with the . Its core functions are to contribute to the development of local government autonomy, as well as to act as spokesman of local government interests vis-a-vis the central government and other national institutions. It also takes an active stand in the relations between Cyprus and the European Union 6. - The objectives of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities according to its statute are the following: i. To act as the highest body representing the Municipalities of Cyprus on a national and international level, with a view to promote and defend their interests and objectives in a concerted manner. ii. To strengthen the political, administrative and financial autonomy and independence of the Municipalities. iii. To identify problems of a general or common nature and define the possibilities of the Municipalities, in order to draft policies and strategies and ensure their implementation. iv. To monitor and promote legislation relating to the interests of the Municipalities. v. To interact effectively with the Municipalities in order to facilitate and enhance cooperation with them, thus offering them the possibility to communicate and exchange opinions and know-how among them and improve cooperation with Local Authorities from other countries. vi. To provide the appropriate support services to the Municipalities (research, studies, advice, training etc). vii. To cooperate with the trade unions representing Municipal staff and the various social and economic partners. viii. To project and highlight the political, social and economic/development role of local self- government and to encourage and facilitate citizen participation in the management of local issues. ix. To achieve the widest possible participation of Municipal Authorities in governance in Cyprus.

6 http://www.ucm.org.cy

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E. INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ACTIVITIES 9. Overview of LG involvement in the Local Government Climate Roadmap How have LGs been involved in the international and European process – how interested, how many, to what extent (from very active to observer). Level of involvement in the national climate debate? - Limited. Impact of this on interest and involvement in regional (European) and international activities? - Low level of interest, except for an interest in acquiring funding and exploring links to the CoM. The LG association was requested to share messages to and from LGs dealing with the LG Action project and Local Government Climate Roadmap.

F. INVOLVEMENT IN NATIONAL ACTIVITIES 10. Overview of national-local interaction Interaction and activities among national (federal) – regional (state) – local governments. Also potential / planned activities (e.g. meetings scheduled) for 2010 and 2011 that could be explored within the framework of LG Action. Is there any formal interaction between national government and cities / others? - There is no formal interaction between national government and the LGs. However, a certain level of consultation exists and the partners involves are related to the issue in discussion. Regular meetings? Specific topics? - No specific consultation structure exists and LGs are not consulted on all issues even when they may potentially be involved or impacted. There is no regular scheduling of consultations, and these may take place at different stages in the decision process. Is there is a need for improved national-local dialogue? - Despite the demands of the UCM for the creation of a standard consultation procedure on all themes that directly concern local authorities, no reform is foreseen to-date, therefore a change in this direction maybe a good improvement.

G. CONTACTS 11. Contacts for cities interested in providing additional information Contacts who could be approached for additional information: name of contact person, Department, Email address (if possible), Web address

LGs that signed the CoM – refer to CoM website for details.

12. Contacts for the national and sub-national government level Contacts who could be approached for additional information: name of contact person, Department, Email address (if possible), Web address Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

13. Contacts for LG association(s) Contacts who could be approached for additional information: name of contact person, Department, Email address (if possible), Web address Union of Cyprus Municipalities / Ένωση Δήμων Κύπρου PO Box 22033, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel.: +357-22-445 170 Fax: +357-22-677 230 E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.ucm.org.cy

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Compiled on: June 2010 / updated in July 2011 Main Author(s): Dina Rizio, Carsten Rothballer, Maryke van Staden (ICLEI Europe)

Contributions by: -

LG Action is co-funded by:

The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained th erein.

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