Environmental problems
in Cyprus
Α΄ Dimotiko sxolio
Pera Choriou - Nisou
Comenius project
2010 - 2012
Main environmental problems
• Water shortage
• Climate change – Extreme weather
events
• Air quality
• Waste
• Traffic jam
Water shortage
Water shortage
The Kouris Dam is normally full,
but since the drought it has run completely dry.
• Cyprus is facing its worst ever water shortage in the past few decades.
• 2007 winter was the second driest since 1901.
• Young pine trees that were planted in the last two decades are dying.
Water shortage
• In 2008 a Greek tanker carrying about 1.76 million cubic feet of
water arrived in Cyprus to help the drought-stricken island
replenish its dwindling water reserves.
Climate change
Extreme weather events
Climate change – Extreme weather events
• Cyprus has a hotter, drier
climate than it had a century
ago.
• The highest temperature
ever officially recorded in
Cyprus was 44.4º in
Nicosia.
Cyprus Climate table
MONTH
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Daytime
°C
15
15
19
24
29
34
37
37
33
28
22
17
Night
°C
5
5
7
10
14
18
21
21
18
14
11
7
Rain days
11
10
7
4
3
1
0
0
1
3
5
9
Climate change – Extreme weather events
Sudden rainfalls
Climate change – Extreme weather events
Hurricanes
Air quality
Air quality
•Cyprus suffers from warm dust storms coming from Africa.
•Vulnerable groups in society stay indoors due to this extremely high
dust levels in the atmosphere.
•Air quality is also influenced from the emissions coming from vehicles.
Waste
Waste
•
•
•
•
Waste is one of the biggest problems that Cyprus is facing.
There is no unified policy about waste.
In 2008 Cypriots generated 770 kg of waste on average.
Cypriots, Danes and the Irish produce the most waste per capita in
the whole European Union.
Waste
• In 2008 Cyprus, stowed 87 per cent of the rubbish in landfills
and recycled only the remaining 13 per cent.
• 113 landfills are currently in operation across Cyprus.
• Landfills are sources of pollution; the ground is contaminated;
the aquifers; toxic substances are produced and foul smell.
Traffic jam
Traffic jam
• Public transport in Cyprus is limited. There is no train service available.
Only buses and Taxis.
• The International Road Federation in 2007 showed that Cyprus holds the
highest car ownership rate in the world with 742 cars per 1,000 people.
• Traffic emissions became an increasing threat to the atmosphere.
• Within the Kyoto Protocol Cyprus has the obligation to reduce emissions to
the atmosphere by 8% during the period 2008 – 2012.
Our students for six
years are dealing
with environmental
activities in their
attempt to save the
environment!