Ms Sonja Leighton-Kone, Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNEP and Director, Corporate Service Division, speaks at the 9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference

Thank you, Olga.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, friends and colleagues,

Cyprus has given birth to so many famous sons and daughters. Among them is Zeno of Citium, the founder of the stoic school of philosophy.

Stoicism has seen something of a revival in recent years. Its teachings pepper the pages of self-help books, exhorting us to live simpler, more virtuous lives.

What is often forgotten is that stoic philosophy was founded on a deeply held belief in the importance of nature. Indeed, the entire goal of life, Zeno said, “is living in agreement with Nature”.

We have failed to heed these sage words. Almost everywhere we look humanity is out of balance with the living world.

We are at war with nature. The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is rapidly destroying our only life support system. Catastrophic impacts and unprecedented suffering lie ahead unless we act now.

Even in Europe, one of the most advanced regions on Earth, progress in addressing the crisis is patchy.

Over the last 30 years the region has undergone profound socioeconomic and political changes that have put immense pressure on the environment. A massive move from rural to urban and coastal areas, richer societies that use and waste more, and populations that are increasingly mobile.

The impacts are clear. The Mediterranean and Black Seas are overfished. Pollution and waste are still rising. Forests are still disappearing. Fossil fuels still make up 78% of the energy mix, driving climactic change that is drying up the region’s rivers, making it harder to grow food, and fuelling devastating wildfires and heatwaves.

At risk if we fail to act is nothing short of the health and well-being of the region’s people.

But it’s not too late to reverse course. Nor do we lack the solutions to do so. In fact, we know exactly what needs to be done to transform the sectors that are responsible for most of the harm.

Eliminating harmful subsidies can cut greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Circular economies and business practices can dramatically reduce waste. Nature-based solutions can build resiliency to climactic shocks.

This conference will also focus on infrastructure and tourism. Rightly so as both play a major role in addressing the interlinked crises threatening the region.

The pandemic badly hit Europe’s tourism sector. Visitor numbers plummeted. But this is changing as countries loosen COVID restrictions. Before millions of visitors return to the region to explore its rich history, Europe has a real opportunity to transform the sector.

This means governments finding ways to work with tourism organizations, cities and regions to plan the transition to circular business models. It means scaling up international, long-distance rail infrastructure and travel, increasing electric charging infrastructure in tourist hotspots, and encouraging people to take more holidays in their own countries. It means transforming the way waste is disposed, the way energy and water is used, the way food systems and supply chains work.

The Bari to Naples railway in Italy is a great example of the type of transport the tourism sector will need if it’s going to cut emissions. It is also a great example of what we mean when we talk about sustainable infrastructure.

It’s an example of what happens when you make sustainability a primary concern at the very start of a large-scale infrastructure project. How factoring in the cost of pollution, climate risk and the damage to ecosystems can change how infrastructure is built, limiting the harm to the environment and to public health, strengthening resilience and boosting the economy.

To achieve this, government ministries will need to work together. Too often environmental issues are siloed and environmental concerns are side-lined. But the triple planetary crisis is fundamentally connected to, and affects, every single ministry from finance to trade, culture to education. So we must find ways to deepen cooperation between ministries.  

Underpinning all of this is the need for greater education. We must equip people with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy and productive lifestyles in harmony with nature and with concern for social values, gender equity and cultural diversity. Armed with knowledge, citizens can play an active role in environmental governance or learn the skills they need to find sustainable jobs.

If the region can do this, if it can roll out sustainable education, if it can transform its tourism sector and green its infrastructure, then Europe can begin to reverse the negative trends we’re seeing.

If we can seize the opportunity at this conference to show a shared vision and common commitment towards these aims, we will send an important signal of serious ambition to our citizens and to the world.

And if we can heed the philosopher Zeno’s advice and live in agreement with nature, then we have a chance of safeguarding the health and well-being of the region’s people. After all, as Zeno said, “life is good when it is in harmony with Nature.” Here today we have a real chance to secure the good life for the region’s people. Let us seize it.

Thank you.