Only a holistic approach to challenges can ensure the sustainable development of Limassol. The sustainable development of Limassol and the safeguarding of its residents’ quality of life were at the centre of this year’s Blue Limassol Forum, held yesterday at Frederick University in Limassol.

Blue Limassol Forum is an annual event co-organized by Frederick University and the Municipality of Limassol fostering dialogue among government representatives, academia, industry, NGOs, and citizens on the sustainable urban and coastal development in Limassol. This year’s event brought together key stakeholders to discuss Limassol’s participation in the EU Mission Cities initiative, which aims to achieve climate neutrality and digital transition by 2030. Limassol has been awarded the EU Mission Label, joining 100 European cities committed to sustainable transformation.

The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Ms. Marina Hadjimanoli, and was followed by welcome addresses from the Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Nicos Nicolaides — who initiated the forum four years ago — and Ms. Natassa Frederickou, President of the Council of Frederick University.

In her address, the Deputy Minister praised the commitment of the Municipality of Limassol and Frederick University to protecting the marine environment, highlighting a study conducted by Frederick University researchers on identifying and assessing environmental risks in Limassol’s marine and coastal areas. Based on this study’s findings, particularly the fragmentation of government services responsible for environmental management, the Ministry decided to establish a special coordination committee to improve cooperation and problem-solving efficiency.

Mayor Nicos Nicolaides emphasized that strengthening the Blue Economy is a key priority for the Municipal Council. In this context, the Municipality has co-organized the Blue Limassol Forum with Frederick University and established the Innovation and Blue Economy Centre, operating for two years. Last year’s forum aligned with Limassol’s participation in the EU Cities Mission, while this year’s discussions moved a step further, focusing on practical directions and actions for coastal and marine sustainability to improve residents’ quality of life. With the EU Mission Label, the Municipality is now advancing concrete proposals and actions in energy, buildings, transport, circular economy, sea, and coastal areas, alongside a cross-cutting focus on innovation and technology.

Thanking Frederick University and its academics for their collaboration, the Mayor noted that implementing the Climate City Contract is not an easy task, but experiences from other European cities demonstrate that the goal is achievable.

In her speech, Ms. Natassa Frederickou congratulated the Mayor on the EU Mission Label and underlined that from its inception, the Blue Limassol Forum has embraced collaboration among all stakeholders active along Limassol’s coast — public bodies, the private sector, researchers, academics, students, and, most importantly, the citizens of Limassol. She highlighted that cooperation and partnerships are vital, stating: “On the road to achieving a sustainable future for Limassol, it is crucial to understand that no long-term change can be achieved without collective effort, knowledge sharing, and coordinated action.”

Academics, researchers, and experts in marine environment and coastal sustainability participated in the forum, which, in its fourth edition, has established itself as a leading interdisciplinary conference on the sustainable development of Limassol’s coastline.

The four presentations and subsequent discussion covered topics including:

• the protection of the marine environment in the wider Southeastern Mediterranean region,
• citizen engagement in addressing urban coastal sustainability challenges,
• enhancement of research activity, and
• the development of innovative solutions to help Limassol achieve climate neutrality within a short timeframe.

As a strategic partner and scientific advisor to the Municipality of Limassol, Frederick University leads the “Ports and Coastal Zone” theme — one of five thematic areas in the city’s Action Plan toward climate neutrality and smart, sustainable development.

In his presentation, Dr. Michalis Makrominas, Assistant Professor in the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce at Frederick University, discussed the EU Mission and the University’s proposal for a holistic approach to climate challenges and socio-economic activities affecting Limassol’s marine ecosystem — aiming to balance ecosystem protection, quality of life, and sustainable urban growth.

Dr. Sergey Popravko, Lecturer in the same Department, presented the University’s proposal for the electrification of ships (cold ironing) at the Port of Limassol, aligning it with European and international environmental standards. Guest speaker Dr. Corrado Sciutto, Project and Commercial Manager at DBA Pro’s Transport Division, shared Italy’s experience in applying cold ironing, while Dr. Dimitris Kleitou, Lecturer at Frederick University, presented the IRSAI research project, which uses sensors and Artificial Intelligence to monitor marine activities in Limassol Bay.

The Forum and the ensuing discussion were moderated by Captain Eugen-Henning Adami, President of the NGO Cyprus Foundation of the Sea (CyFoS) and a member of the academic staff at Frederick University’s Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce. Participants in the discussion included Dr. Angelos Menelaou, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce, Mr. Prabhat Kumar Jha, CEO of MSC Shipmanagement Ltd Cyprus, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Prof. Shaul Chorev, Head of the Institute for Maritime Policy & Strategy at Israel’s National Center for the Blue Economy, Ms. Hila Ehrenreich, Director of the Israeli National Center for Blue Economy and Innovation, and Dr. Corrado Sciutto.

Prior to the forum, Frederick University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Maritime Policy and Strategy (MPS) to promote collaboration on marine environmental protection and Blue Economy initiatives in the wider Southeastern Mediterranean region.