A consortium of scientists and experts led by the Cyprus Department of Environment, have joined forces in the context of the new project “ACCEPT”, to investigate the interaction between air pollution and climate change through a comprehensive suite of novel atmospheric measurements combined with the last generation of computer-based model simulations to better assess associated risks on public health and various economic sectors.
“ACCEPT” is coordinated by the Cyprus Department of Environment, with contributions from the Cyprus Meteorological Service and the Department of Labour Inspection. Notably, the consortium also brings together three European Research Center of Excellence, the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center of the Cyprus Institute, the Center of Excellence in Risk & Decision Sciences (CERIDES) of the European University and the Eratosthenes Center of Excellence at the Cyprus University of Technology.
Cyprus is situated at the crossroads of air pollution transported from three different continents and is downwind of atmospheric dust originating from two of the world’s largest deserts. Given its location, Cyprus regularly suffers from bad air quality, and it is expected that this situation may worsen in the near future due to global warming, regional geopolitical instability, and fast-growing MENA populations.
Bad air quality is a crucial matter for Cyprus as it has widespread implications both for public health (due to premature deaths) and the economy (due to health-related associated costs). In fact, it is estimated that mortality due to air pollution in Cyprus reaches c. 800 people per year. However, Cyprus and the surrounding region have received little attention in the context of relevant international research studies on air pollution. A contributor to this being that until very recently, available environmental data for the region have been insufficient, unavailable or of limited quality.
The “ACCEPT” project – whose name stands for Assessment of Climate Change Effects on Pollution Transport in Cyprus, and launched in July 2020 – has set to address these challenges through advancing scientific knowledge on air pollution in Cyprus. It also aims to provide a new and expanded Cyprus air quality database, through establishing a comprehensive atmospheric measurement program for atmospheric desert dust using state-of-the-art remote sensing LIDAR techniques, human-made pollution in Cypriot cities using novel technologies based on dense networks of miniaturized Air Quality sensors, and long-range transboundary pollution in Cyprus using unmanned aerial vehicles to probe the first kilometres of the atmosphere. In combination with Cyprus weather and air quality networks, these data will then be used for testing, constraining and improving earth system and air quality models and climate projections for the region.
Through its activities, the project seeks to evaluate (through computer-based simulations) different efficient abatement strategies to improve air quality and reduce human exposure to air pollution in Cyprus. It also aims to contribute to studies of regional climate change to better prepare for associated socio-economic impacts and risks.
ACCEPT is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants which represent Norway’s contribution towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.
For more information or any queries, contact:
Dr. Nicoletta Kythreotou
Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Address: 20-22, 28th Octovriou Avenue,
CY- 2414 Nicosia, Cyprus
Phone: +357 22 408 947
Email: nkythreotou@environment.moa.gov.cy