The green transition of shipping concerns us all: Citizens’ voices are crucial

Op-eds environment The green transition of shipping concerns us all: Citizens’ voices are crucial Michalis Ierides Cymepa Relevant News The green transition of shipping concerns us all: Citizens’ voices are crucial 14 September 2026 New EU fingerprint EES border checks still not fully in place in nine countries 14 September 2026 Cyprus pupils plan Wednesday walkout over school conditions 14 September 2026 newsroom 14 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber By Dr Michalis Iereidis* The Eastern Mediterranean is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, with climate change directly affecting coastal communities, the economy and our daily lives. At the heart of this reality, shipping — one of the most critical pillars of both the global and local economy — is undergoing a historic transformation. The gradual shift towards alternative fuels, digital applications and lower-emission technologies is not simply a technical or business adjustment, but an imperative for the future of our environment. However, as the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), we consistently stress that this transition does not concern shipping companies, ports or technical experts alone. It directly concerns port cities, residents of coastal areas and society as a whole. A truly sustainable green transition must, above all, be people-centred. This is precisely the philosophy behind the five-year METAVASEA project, in which CYMEPA participates as a partner, under the coordination of HELMEPA and with the support of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Our aim is to support the green and digital transition of shipping by placing people at the centre, to upgrade the skills of 1,500 seafarers and industry professionals, and to strengthen environmental awareness throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The findings from the first wave of the project’s survey, in which 898 people from the shipping sector, ports and civil society participated, are particularly revealing: 97% of citizens say they are concerned about the impact of global warming on our local environment. 78% consider the decarbonisation of shipping to be of very high importance for the sustainability of the Mediterranean. At the same time, however, the survey highlighted significant gaps in awareness regarding shipping’s actual share of global greenhouse gas emissions. This contradiction underlines a major need: the need for reliable, clear and evidence-based information. Society wants to protect the sea and cares about doing so, but it needs the right tools and knowledge to understand the changes taking place and to become an active participant in them. For this reason, we are calling today on every citizen in Cyprus — and particularly those who live and work in our coastal areas — to devote less than 10 minutes to completing the anonymous online METAVASEA questionnaire. Your perceptions, knowledge and concerns will help identify the real education and information needs in our region. Your participation gives a voice to local communities, helping to ensure that the shipping sector of the future is shaped with sustainable development, sustainability and respect for people and the environment at its core. The protection of the marine environment is not the responsibility of a select few; it is both the responsibility and the right of us all. *Secretary General of CYMEPA Useful Links Participate in the questionnaire (Greek version): https://shout.com/s/cYLQGMPT Information about the METAVASEA project: https://www.helmepa.gr/metavasea Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News New EU fingerprint EES border checks still not fully in place in nine countries Cyprus pupils plan Wednesday walkout over school conditions Himalayas approaching tipping point, millions of livelihoods at stake, report finds Almost four in ten deadly Limassol wildfire claims rejected, minister says City Friends Club organises cleanup drive for World Cleanup Day Who owns Europe’s AI future? The battle over data centres Kremlin defends drone strike near Poland border Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.