Cyprus has the most food waste in the European Union. This is a big problem with environmental and social effects. The government is changing its plans. They want to move to a circular economy. This means using things again and again. They are also working on their climate change strategy.
Lots of wasted food means wasted resources. This includes water, energy, and land. When food rots in landfills, it makes greenhouse gases. This makes climate change worse. It also raises questions about people not having enough food. Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou said, "Cyprus has the highest food waste in the EU." She said this has big environmental and social problems. People buy too much food. They also don't store it well. This causes much of the waste.
The government has a plan for a circular economy. This plan will change how we use things. It will focus on reducing waste. It will also help us use resources better. The goal is to use products for a long time. This helps get the most value from them.
Education is very important for this plan. Commissioner Theodosiou said, "Education must help the circular economy work." We need to change how people behave. Understanding the impact of waste is key. Schools are teaching younger people about this. Students are giving good ideas to solve the problem. This shows young people want to help.
Climate change makes this problem more urgent. Cyprus is already feeling the effects. Temperatures are rising and rain is less. Natural resources are becoming scarce. By reducing food waste, Cyprus helps its environment. It also helps the world fight climate change. We all need to work together to stop food waste.