Protecting Nature Is Not Just a Choice, but a Must

As environmental issues come back into force during Environment Protection Week, Prof. Dr. Rana Kıdak, a faculty member from the Environmental Engineering Department at Cyprus International University (CIU), drew attention to environmental threats in Cyprus.

Prof. Dr. Kıdak emphasized that forest fire, depletion of water resources, insufficient waste management, the impact of construction on nature, and marine pollution are the primary issues threatening the island’s environmental future. She also noted that unplanned tourism activities, unconscious use of groundwater, and the introduction of agricultural chemicals into nature are among the major threats. She stressed the need for collaboration between public institutions and NGOs, raising public awareness, and more effective enforcement of environmental laws to combat these problems.

While the current environmental policies may be sufficient on a legal level, Kıdak stated that they fall short in practice. She highlighted the need for increased inspections, enhanced public awareness, and stricter penalties for individuals and organizations that harm the environment.

Although public environmental awareness has increased in recent years, Kıdak noted that it is still not at the desired level and she drew attention to the start of environmental education at an early age. She underlined that it is among the responsibilities of every individual of saving water and energy, developing recycling habits, avoiding giving harm to nature, and reducing carbon footprints. She added that choosing eco-friendly products, being sensitive to environmentally harmful activities, and raising societal awareness are also part of these responsibilities.
Prof. Dr. Kıdak stated that the university conducts many activities to increase environmental awareness. She mentioned that students are directly involved in the process through tree planting, recycling projects, and zero waste initiatives. The use of LED lighting across the campus, water-saving systems, and recycling bins placed for different types of waste are part of the university’s sustainability efforts.

Cyprus International University has also achieved notable international success in environmental sensitivity by ranking 64th among 1,477 universities in the UI Green Metric World University Rankings, making it the top-ranking university on the island.