To κλίμα αλλάζει. Εμείς ? | Christiana Kouzari Athanasatou | TEDxLarnaca

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The seasons are changing. Cold and rainy winters are followed by humid and hot summers; extreme weather events get more frequent with every passing year, while spring and autumn practically occur only a few days each year. The climate is definitely changing. What about us?

The European Parliament voted in October 2020 to update the EU’s climate target for 2030, backing a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade. It is obvious that the contribution of each of us is important. And of course the role of local government in achieving the European goal is crucial.

Success in adapting to climate change will come when Local Authorities and the Community work together. In our hometown, Larnaca, the slogan "the city for the city" has guided our projects and actions many years now. The evolution of our Municipality into a greener and more environmentally friendly Municipality in the last 10-15 years, would not have been possible without the active participation of our fellow citizens.

But things were not always easy, and for most of the changes in the city, we had to (and still have to!) work hard. Because change is not easy for most people; it means getting rid of old habits, of changing the ways one is so set in. So, how does a City inspire and engage its people to be part of its initiatives?

The best example comes through the City’s participation in European Mobility Week. How did we go from a few cyclists and one-day events to hundreds of participants and weeks of celebrations? When was the turning point? Which were the key elements that made the change possible?

Climate change is undoubtedly a major crisis, with economic and social dimensions. But it can also create opportunities. It is time to evaluate our course so far, to reorganize, to plan our next steps carefully and to make environmentally friendly decisions, for a truly sustainable future. For ourselves and our children.

The climate is changing. But so are we. Christiana Kouzari Athanasatou is a proud member of the Team for the Promotion of Sustainable Mobility of the City of Larnaca. She was present in every step of the bumpy yet amazing road of this journey.