Climate change strategies, policies and actions of Mediterranean countries with a focus on the two island nation states, Cyprus and Malta

Abstract

Climate Change is a global phenomenon that has progressively come to the fore over the last six decades. Strategies and policies evolved over this time that reflected a changing awareness with resultant attitudes by political and community leaders, and the public. The effects of Climate Change require that actions be taken to mitigate them. This thesis aims to analyse and compare which are the drivers that determine the strategies, policies and actions that have been and may be adopted by countries in the Mediterranean, with specific reference to the only two island nation states, Cyprus and Malta. The study looks at these issues initially from global and European perspectives and then focusses on the Mediterranean region, reviews the specific challenges of small island states globally, to arrive at the situation in Cyprus and Malta. This desk study draws much of its information from reports issued by authoritative institutions such as the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union, and their respective organizations, rather than just relying on the works of individual contributors, albeit eminent authors and commentators are also consulted. Comparative analyses are made for the countries of the Mediterranean region and specifically between Cyprus and Malta, seeking to recognize differences and similarities, establishing the reasons for them so as to be able to draw conclusions. It results that there are several and various factors that influence Climate Change strategies, policies and actions. These range from the physical effects of Climate Change, to education levels and the structure of society in the country, to economic factors, as well as local politics and geopolitics. The study concludes that while these factors should be considered, it is ultimately governments within the constraints of their economies and political agendas, that determine the outcomes.