Promoting bicommunal co-operation among experts in environmental issues
Authors:
Michalis Loizides
Sibel Paralik
Niki Kypragora
Imbrahim Alkan
Abstract
On 5 June 2004 – World Environment Day – the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) and the Turkish Cypriot Architects and Engineers Association (KTMMOB), issued a common declaration, stating their willingness to expand their co-operation in the area of the environment.
The aim was to strengthen the relations between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Engineers concerning environmental issues of common interest, aiming at the long-term benefit of both communities. This started with the creation of a common group of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot engineers – representatives of ETEK’ s environment committee and the Chamber of Environment of the Turkish Cypriot Engineers Association. This group designed and secured funding of an environmental research programme, which identified the major environmental areas of common concern for both communities and set out the mechanism allowing ETEK and KTMMOB, to work together to find scientific sustainable solutions which could be applied to the whole island.
The group identified the following environmental concerns as priority areas for Cyprus:
- Environmental Legislation and Implementation
- Strategic Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment
- Infrastructure
- Education
- Water Resources Management
- Waste Management
- Energy
- Tourism
- Land Use
- Protection of Nature
In adition to the research the structure and operation of the two organizations was examined and evaluated. The aim was to find ways in order to upgrade the role of the two organizations in the decision-taking process concerning the environment, and to allow them to design a common strategy on issues of mutual interest.
This parallel work showed the increasing need for the active engagement of ETEK/KTMMOB in the environmental issues of each community, as well as common programmes. The conclusion was the need for a unitary Environmental Bureau to be created, which would be part of the structure of the two Chambers and staffed by permanent personnel, in charge of handling all environmental issues which mainly spring from the implementation of European Environmental Legislation in Cyprus. The suggested Environmental Bureau will also be supported by “professional groups/committees” for each environmental issue, which could refer to codes of implementation, forming a new piece of environmental legislation or upgrading an existing one.
We believe that this programme was a positive step for the Engineers’ associations in both communities. The lessons and outcomes drawn from studying the analysis of the current situation and from evaluating the role of each key party in the environmental area will boost the two Chambers in order for them to intervene in a dynamic way through common actions.
As Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Engineers, having participated in this common environmental co-operation, we got a strong taste of the challenge that such an undertaking posed, and as friends we have worked together in a creative way for the benefit of our common country, hoping that this work will continue.
The article has been presented in ECOFORUM 2007, Nicosia, CYPRUS