The story behind the logo and moto of the 9^th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference, Nicosia-Cyprus

The moto of the 9th EfE Ministerial Conference in Nicosia is “TRANSFORMING PLAN–ET”. To Transform our Plan-et, we need to give to humanity, a chance for change. A change can be achieved through transforming our plans for the environment and the planet at the national and regional levels. The 9^th EfE Ministerial Meeting in Cyprus can operate as a platform for communication and collaboration between countries, organizations and people from various sectors, in order to work together for transforming the policies and plans on circular economy/sustainable infrastructure, sustainable tourism and education for sustainable development that will empower them towards “TRANSFORMING PLAN–ET”.

The logo is transformative and with diverse meanings, depending on the perspective through which each person views it: As a blooming flower, as faces representing people from all over the world, as the island of Cyprus being the crossroad of three continents.

The viewer can see the logo as a globe or as a blooming flower, projecting the main idea of the conference, which is the environment. Nature and the environment are inherent values and it is our duty- individually and collectively- to preserve them for the current and future generations.

Through another perspective, the logo presents faces, reflecting people from all over the world, who will meet in Cyprus and, regardless of their color, ethnic origin, culture, age, and religion, through exchanging ideas and learning from each other, will commit for adopting policies that can lead to the sustainability of the environment and of the planet.

The third meaning of the logo is focused on Cyprus. The three colored patterns represent the three continents that surround the island. Europe on top, Asia to the right and Africa at the bottom. Cyprus connects the East and the West, creating open routes, as Cyprus historically was always a trade center and a meeting place for cultures and civilizations.

As the design of the logo has multiple meanings, so do the colors.

Light blue represents the color of hope. It symbolizes the open skies and the Mediterranean Sea that surrounds Cyprus. It is also the color of the United Nations and represents the thematic pillar of sustainable tourism.

Orange is the color of energy and the main color of the Cyprus flag. It is the color of the sun that gives life to everything. It represents the thematic pillar of circular economy/sustainable infrastructure.

Olive green is the color of peace and of nature. It represents the thematic pillar of Education for Sustainable Development and symbolizes education as the key driver for rethinking our behavioral models and from shifting our mindsets towards more sustainable lifestyles.