Transportation Initiative

In October 2014, EU countries have agreed on a new 2030 Framework for climate and energy, including EU-wide targets and policy objectives for the period between 2020 and 2030. These targets aim to help the EU achieve a more competitive, secure and sustainable energy system and to meet its long-term 2050 greenhouse gas reductions target.

The strategy sends a strong signal to the market, encouraging private investment in new pipelines, electricity networks, and low-carbon technology. The targets are based on a thorough economic analysis that measures how to cost-effectively achieve decarbonisation by 2050.

Among the energy targets for 2030 is a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. This is a very challenging target for European Countries to achieve, and requires a lot of actions to be made at an individual level, especially in the transport sector, which is considered one of the highest emission producer sectors in Europe.

Recognizing this challenging target, the University of Nicosia is supporting the following actions that would reduce the individual impact on the transport emissions:

• Use of public transport – the University has collaborated with the city organization for public buses and has managed to has a bus stop right outside the University, connecting the University with major locations in the city
• Car sharing scheme – the university encourages faculty, staff and students to share their cars in order to reduce their carbon footprint
• Cycling society – the University has established a Cycling society and encourages faculty, staff and students to come to the University by bicycles. The university offers secure bicycle parking locations and also is a part of a network of bicycle rental. In addition, since March 2017, the University of Nicosia is interconnected with all the other universities in Nicosia through a bicycle lane network.