Cyprus has recorded an unwanted distinction in the latest environmental indicators published by Eurostat, emerging as the only European Union member state to increase its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.
According to Eurostat’s Key Figures of Europe 2026 report, greenhouse gas emissions across the EU had fallen by 36.3% by 2023 compared with 1990 levels.
The report states that between 1990 and 2023, greenhouse gas emissions declined in every EU country except Cyprus.
While the remaining 26 member states reduced their environmental footprint, Cyprus moved in the opposite direction. Countries including Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Baltic states managed to cut emissions by more than half over the same period.
Transport and energy policies under scrutiny
Former Environment Commissioner and Green Party MP Charalambos Theopemptou attributed Cyprus’ poor performance to long-standing structural weaknesses.
Speaking to Economy Today, he said the country had fallen behind in implementing meaningful measures to tackle emissions, particularly in the areas of buildings, transport and electricity generation.
He argued that public transport remains heavily dependent on buses that do not adequately serve the wider public, while energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings have progressed too slowly.
Theopemptou also criticised the implementation of building energy standards, claiming that energy-efficiency certificates are sometimes issued before projects are fully completed.
Concerns over solar energy strategy
The environmental expert also pointed to policy mistakes in the development of renewable energy and the country’s electricity generation model.
He argued that authorities prioritised large-scale solar parks operated by major companies while failing to give sufficient emphasis to rooftop solar systems for households.
According to Theopemptou, greater support for residential photovoltaic installations could have helped reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower emissions more effectively.
He also noted that discussions on changing the fuel used by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus have continued for years without significant progress, while fuel oil remains part of the island’s electricity generation mix.
Questions over climate commitments
Commenting on Cyprus’ National Energy and Climate Plan, Theopemptou suggested that many of its targets remain largely aspirational and are not being implemented with the necessary urgency.
He warned that the economic consequences of delayed action ultimately fall on ordinary citizens through higher costs and environmental penalties.
High dependence on imported energy
The Eurostat report also highlights Cyprus’ continued dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The EU’s energy dependency rate stood at 57.3% in 2024, measuring the extent to which countries rely on imports to meet their energy needs.
Among the highest-dependent countries were Malta and Luxembourg, both covering more than 90% of their energy requirements through imports.
Cyprus followed with an energy dependency rate of 88%, significantly above the EU average.
At the other end of the scale, Estonia recorded the lowest dependency rate in the bloc at just 4.6%.
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