We live in a world of unprecedented challenges. Environmental devastation and climate crisis, poverty, inequality, failure of democratic institutions and social division are some of the challenges, which are increasingly felt by local communities. Many of our beliefs, habits and unsustainable practices need to change if we want to preserve a habitable environment and a just and equitable society for future generations. This is a huge undertaking which can only be achieved collectively thus we, as an organisation, are focusing on cultivating a well-informed public interest and understanding of the main challenges of sustainable development. 

According to the reports of Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), the Mediterranean region is expected to become severely affected by climate change in the near future. We are already experiencing many of the consequences of climate change such as frequent droughts, extreme weather events, high temperatures, biodiversity loss etc. Especially Cyprus faces a very high risk of land degradation and desertification mainly due to anthropogenic climate change, high level of urbanisation and degrading land use policies.

Our societies are troubled by poverty, inequalities, human rights violations, gentrification, marginalization of vulnerable groups, insufficient education. The projected future lack or scarcity of natural resources such as water and agricultural land are expected to intensify social conflicts and migration.

Vested interests, insufficient political action, lack of public information on important issues are all factors that are delaying progress towards sustainable development.

The future looks challenging so in order to survive under these challenges and progress toward a more sustainable future we will need strong communities, determined to implement the sustainable development goals in their everyday lives.