ESG and Nature Conservation in Cyprus

How can Environmental Social Governance (ESG) connect to nature conservation in Cyprus?

The Cyprus Environment Foundation (CEF) attended the 2nd Cyprus ESG Forum on December 5th 2023, and spoke about the significance of ‘Investing in sustainable development in Cyprus through environmental conservation’.

CEF’s executive director, Sofia Matsi talked about the non-for-profit foundation’s impact during its first 1.5 years of operation when more than 150,000 were invested in local conservation work, supporting 20 different projects and partnering with 14 expert organization across the island. Sofia went on to present how the organization has been tackling some of the most challenging Environmental Sustainable Development Goals through its diverse range of projects: By either addressing the lack of efficient marine environmental education in public and private schools of Cyprus, supporting citizen science work and volunteer engagement for the monitoring of the island’s vulnerable wetland habitats or by preventing the consumption of single use plastic on our beaches.

Sofia, emphasized on the important role corporates play in the protection and restoration of our country’s natural assets while fulfilling their ESG environmental criteria, through investing in high quality and impact conservation projects. CEF’s executive director summarized her speech by referring to CEF’s co-founder Ben Goldsmith’s words that: ‘Everywhere you look there are brilliant, passionate people working to create positive environmental change. Modest strategic investment, can supercharge this work.’

The event was well attended by 200 representatives from local corporates, consultants, academic and state representatives.

 

You can find the event’s presentations by clicking here.