Survey results on the opinion of the citizens of Limassol on important environmental issues

On Wednesday, 29th of July2020, the Municipality of Limassol and Frederick University held a press conference to present the results of a survey that was conducted and run by Frederick University as part of the first annual Blue Limassol Forum that was organised by the two parties in May. The survey captured the opinions of the citizens of Limassol on important environmental issues. During the press conference, Limassol Municipality and Frederick University signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.

In his speech, the Mayor of Limassol, Mr Nicos Nicolaides, mentioned: “With the publication of the conclusions of the Forum and the results of the citizens' opinion survey, the annual Blue Limassol Forum is now shaping up as an open platform for ongoing assessment and discussion on blue development issues. The Blue Limassol Forum also marks the upgrading of the cooperation between the Municipality and Frederick University, with the signing of the relevant Memorandum.” He added: “The cooperation between Limassol Municipality and Frederick University is not a theoretical one. It is not a partnership that, like many others, will remain on paper. The first major action of this cooperation is already under way, as a result of the Forum. It concerns an issue of crucial importance for Limassol, and will be jointly funded by the Limassol Municipality and Frederick University: Conducting an expert study to identify and evaluate the overall risks arising from activities and projects in the coastal and maritime region of Limassol. For a city like Limassol, the development and prosperity of which depend - to a large extent - on its marine and coastal environment, such a study is absolutely necessary.”

The Head of the Department of Maritime, Transport and Commerce of Frederick University, Dr Angelos Menelaou, expressed his satisfaction with the signing of the Memorandum and thanked the Mayor of Limassol and his associates for their cooperation in establishing the Blue Limassol Forum. In addition, he mentioned that the complex reality that emerges in the management of environmental issues, especially those involving multivariate and interdependent ecosystems such as the marine, requires a collective and multidisciplinary approach. “The State, the Private Sector, the Academic Community and Citizens should respond to all aspects of Environment which affect the society as a whole and align their efforts in the planning and decision-making process in order to achieve shared objectives and outcomes” he noted.

As the Blue Limassol Forum initiative developed, ascertaining the opinions of citizens regarding sustainability of the environment was considered critical to provide insights regarding concerns and priorities. A structured questionnaire was designed, and the survey was conducted online over the week preceding the Blue Limassol Forum.

Over 500 people participated in the survey with about two thirds of the sample being over the age of 30. Gender representation was almost equal, while three quarters of the participants live or work in Limassol. The academic profile of the respondents was impressive, with nearly 50% holding postgraduate (40.9%) or doctorate (8.7%) degrees.

The survey revealed that the main priority with respect to major coastal environmental concerns is improving the quality of coastal waters, followed by improving the beaches. The finding is consistent with the view that the main perceived benefit of a well-functioning eco-system for Limassoleans is the facilitation of aquatic recreational activities.

Limassol beaches were described as “average” in terms of safety and cleanliness, while hotels, commercial ships and the sewerage system were identified as the main source of pollution on coastal waters and beaches. An emerging trend among participants’ beliefs was the newly perceived threat of tall buildings affecting the marine ecosystems of Limassol. Equally important, lack of citizen awareness was identified as a major threat to the local marine ecosystems. The need for increased environmental awareness appears to be strengthened amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey also highlights the need for related authorities to improve enforcement and efficiency of policing. In line with limited citizen awareness and authority services, most respondents were unable to recall to which authority they should report a violation incident. They have also asserted that both media coverage and educational resources on environmental issues should increase. It can be safely inferred that more effective methods must be employed in communicating the structure and roles of environmental authorities to citizens.

Finally, the respondents emphasized the need for the City of Limassol to maintain regional leadership in the Maritime Industry and for academic institutions to incorporate more marine and maritime environmental education to their programs' curricula. Despite the economic crisis, respondents declared their willingness to commit a duty or charge to increase the protection of the marine environment.

The survey has identified the areas where citizens have the most concerns. In the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation, the Municipality of Limassol and Frederick University will further cooperate in organising scientific research and educational programs, innovative actions, development programs and initiatives (European, National, International) and exchange of information and know-how on matters of common interest to all stakeholders and citizens through the organization of an annual Blue Limassol Forum. The dialogue remains open so that priorities, decisions and actions are driven by an informed and transparent basis.

Find the research here