Voice Cyprus News
Born and raised in Limassol, Cyprus, where she currently lives and works, Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra has a diverse heritage from both Cyprus and the Dominican Republic. As an active and talented architect with a passion for the environment, she brings fresh, contemporary ideas to her work. For the past few years, she has been leading an EU-funded initiative called the EU Cities Mission, which is being implemented by the Municipality of Limassol.
In an exclusive interview with VOICE Cyprus, Mrs. Hadjilyra discusses this ambitious environmental project and reflects on the similar environmental challenges faced by cities across Cyprus, both in the north and the south. She also emphasizes the importance of small, everyday actions that everyone can take to collectively address the environmental crisis.
What is the EU Cities Mission programme that you are running on behalf of Limassol Municipality?
EU Missions are a novelty of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme for the years 2021-2027 and they support the European Commission priorities in a new way to bring concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges.
The Limassol Municipality has been selected, following a competitive process as one of the 100 EU Cities and 12 other related under the Horizon Europe Program cities that will lead the way into implementation of policies and actions aiming towards climate neutrality and smart transformation by 2030.
The 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 mission aims to support, promote and showcase 100 European cities and 12 related cities in their systemic transformation towards climate neutrality by 2030 and turn these cities into innovation hubs for all cities, benefiting quality of life and sustainability in Europe.
The participation of the Municipality of Limassol in the European Mission 100 climate and smart cities is split into three phases.
During Phase A, in 2022, the Municipality of Limassol applied presenting the projects and actions it has implemented to date, the goals and vision it sets for the future as well as the difficulties and opportunities it expects to encounter in reaching climate neutrality.
During Phase B which we went through in 2022 until November 2023 – the Municipality of Limassol was called to co-create with the governance that had been set and the citizens of the Municipality of Limassol the Limassol Climate City Contract- the strategy of actions and investments required for reaching the preset goal of climate neutrality.
During Phase C which started in 2024 and until 2030 the Municipality of Limassol implements and should continue to implement the climate actions as planned during Phase B.
What are the main challenges of the project?
The success of the project relies on a systemic approach, and it requires collaboration of different parties deriving from different sectors. A strong political mandate needs to be placed from the beginning and preserved throughout the years of implementation of the different activities that are required to achieve the desired results. The investments required are high and the results are not directly visible.
As an architect yourself, how important is it for the new buildings constructed to be eco-friendly?
As an architect, I support the deep retrofitting of existing buildings and the preservation and restoration of listed buildings, both that are already available and, in many cases, abandoned. My private architectural workshop “the way space begins” mainly undertakes projects of this nature.
I think that any new buildings should go through much stricter regulations in relation to the emissions produced for their construction (type of materials, permeable ground materials etc) and during their planning for use (energy production and consumption, waste management, grey/ black water management etc). Additionally, I wish for stricter rules on the % of green areas in public and private owned land. I can’t stop thinking green areas are being reduced at a fast pace.
What makes a building ecological?
Constructing buildings and infrastructure with sustainable technologies and materials is crucial for promoting environmental health and quality of life. Green or sustainable buildings enhance their surroundings by efficiently reducing energy, water, and resource consumption, thereby minimizing pollution. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, an internationally recognized standard, evaluates buildings based on various sustainability criteria, including location, sustainable site practices, water and energy efficiency, material use, indoor environmental quality, design innovation, and regional priority. By adhering to these principles, green buildings not only protect the natural habitat and reduce environmental impact but also promote social equity and public health in their locales.
Too many cars, not enough trees, not enough green spaces and a pedestrian unfriendly city. Do you agree that these are the basic environmental problems of Limassol?
Yes but… the greatest environmental problem in my opinion are humans and their attitude towards climate change. The use of cars is a choice. The prioritization of cars in urban planning decisions is a choice. The prioritization of economic growth and city expansion during land zoning is a choice. The absence of policies and monitoring the preservation of green areas is a choice. The list can go on and on in different subjects and decisions that relate to energy production and consumption, waste management from source to collection and handling, water source management, and more. All subjects that affect the way our cities are shaped today have one element in common, the choices and decisions are all taken by humans.
Do you think that all cities in Cyprus face the same environmental issues?
All face the same environmental issues. In some areas, these are more visible due to fast economic and real estate growth. All cities will follow.
Do you have a picture about the ecological situation in the north part of Cyprus?
I think it is following the footsteps of the south. The increase of foreign investors has increased in numbers, and I am aware that especially the real estate market has been shaping the different areas in a way that I feel is not well thought of and repercussions will come along with that.
What is the Cyprus Cities Forum that you participated in recently?
The Limassol Municipality co-organizes with Oxygono for Democracy and the Cyprus University of Technology the Cyprus Forum Cities.
Oxygono for Democracy is part of the transition team of the Limassol Municipality for Climate Neutrality and the Cyprus Forum Cities is a space during which we try to bring local actors and concerning parties from the global scene to discuss on topics that relate to cities transformation, development and so on.
I collaborate with Nicolas Kyriakides from Oxygono for Democracy to create the conditions by which discussions can be initiated, solutions co-designed and commitments be communicated to lead them into policy making which shape the way our cities are and function.
What are the daily small actions that we can all do as everyday people to tackle collectively the environmental crisis?
Think of yourself as someone that owns a lot of properties and homes. And be selfish. Be very very selfish.
Imagine your body being your first home. Be selfish for that body. Demand to feed it the best possible food. Food that is fresh and locally sourced. Visit a local farmer rather than a supermarket. Be selfish for that body and move with it. Walk around. Run around. Cycle around. Be selfish and be sociable. Do weekly visits to the farmer/market rather than monthly supermarket visits. Weekly will help you become friends with the farmer. You see her every week- at the end of the day…
Weekly means you buy less, more often and easier to keep track of your weekly expenses. How much do you really eat per week? Weekly means that it is more likely to deduct zero food waste because it is easier to think about how much salad and fruit you need for seven days rather than 30. Be selfish and waste less food. Be selfish and waste less money. Be selfish and make friends.
Imagine your literal house being your second home. The building. Be selfish for that building. Make sure it can stand for long. Make sure it can stand for long and independent of anything. Make sure whatever it uses it also produces. Make sure it does not need cooling. Make sure it does not need heating. If it does, be selfish and create the conditions, by which it can cool down and heat up using free energy.
Imagine your neighborhood being your third home. Be selfish and want it beautiful. Be selfish and maintain it. Your neighborhood is yours to clean. Be selfish and make it usable. Demand so that it has trees and then when they are there take care of them so you can sit under them on a bench. Be selfish and allow yourself to enjoy the shade. Be selfish and do not park on a pavement. It is yours and there to walk on.
Imagine your city as being your fourth home. Be selfish and demand alternative methods for transportation. Do you enjoy spending time in a car for 30-45 minutes every time you need to move around the city? Be selfish and find another way to protect yourself from the waste of time and energy. Do you see that trash? Be selfish and when you buy products choose to buy unpackaged ones. Buy beans that are not packaged, they do not need to be! Buy fruit that is unpackaged, they were never meant to be! Drink water from the tap, you already pay so much money to make it drinkable! Why are you double paying? Be selfish!
I hope for humans to become more selfish and help themselves to escape from the cycle they have placed themselves in.
Voice Cyprus News-2024
