PRECEPT Project presented at the 1st EMME-focused R&I Workshop

On 11 & 12 October, 2021 EMME-CARE hosted the 1st “Climate and Atmosphere Research & Innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (EMME)” Online Workshop https://emme-care.cyi.ac.cy/news/ . Through two full days of sessions, talks, and activities the workshop brought together EMME regional and international scientific communities to discuss the latest concerning the science of climate change and air pollution, as well as related challenges, impacts and potential solutions for the EMME region. The Workshop’s welcoming address was given by Prof Jean Sciare, Director of CARE-C and Coordinator of EMME-CARE. The event included an exciting program, reporting the latest concerning the science of climate change and air pollution in the form of 7 invited talks and a selection of 38 oral and 21 virtual PICO presentations on recent relevant advances in the field. Presenters came from universities, research institutions and private companies from across the EMME and beyond.  Details of the programme are accessible here. The Workshop brought together over 250 participants from 36 countries,...
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2nd Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Conference

PRECEPT (https://preceptproject.info) will participate to the  2nd Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Conference and to the pre-conference workshops, which will be organized by the Cyprus Institute under the framework of the EMME-CARE project, from 11 to 14 of October 2021. The conference will attract leading policy makers, scientists, prominent business people, key civil society stakeholders, and opinion-leaders from around the world. The findings of the Regional Scientific Task Forces appointed in the framework of the Cyprus Government Initiative, will be presented and debated to form the basis of an EMME Regional Climate Action Plan. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the proposed measures and solutions and gain an in-depth understanding of the benefits from their implementation in the EMME region. The Conference will be preceded by two days of scientific workshops, focused on aspects of climate change and air pollution in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. Through two full days of sessions,...
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The PRECEPT Particulate Matter Monitor: A short video tour

The PRECEPT PM monitor, developed by Additess LTD and the Cyprus Institute (CyI)  under the framework of the PRECEPT project (https://preceptproject.info)   is an autonomous instrument that can measure the size and number of all airborne particulate matter (PM) having size from 0.3 to more than 10 μm, with an accuracy that is comparable with other laboratory grade instruments at a fraction of their cost. The PRECEPT PM monitor comes equipped with a touch screen, a micro-computer and its own user friendly software, allowing for in-situ operation and real-time visualization of the measurements, while due to its networking capabilities it can be operated remotely, be part of an air quality network, or even incorporated together with other sensors in "smart and green" technological networks.  The PRECEPT PM monitor is compact and equipped with a battery, thus it can be employed as a portable personal monitor and be utilized for conducting air quality surveys for the recognition of pollution hot-spots. This video...
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Coming Conferences!

PRECEPT (https://preceptproject.info) will participate to the European Aerosol Conference (EAC) from 30 Aug. to 03 Sep. 2021 and to the International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST), from 01 to 04 Sep. 2021, by two presentations regarding the latest developments on low-cost particulate matter sensors  and their applicability in the next generation of cost-effective aerosol instruments. ...
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Cyprus Government Climate Change Initiative: A Step Closer to Forming a Regional Climate Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Region

Science-based climate change mitigation and adaptation policies were discussed by international groups of scientists, policy-makers and regional experts during a virtual seminar organized by The Cyprus Institute in the context of the Cyprus Government’s Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East Climate Change Initiative, for coordinating climate action in the region.  The Cyprus Government Initiative aims at the development of a Regional Action Plan to address the climate-relevant challenges and needs of Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (EMME) region and advance regional mitigation actions in accordance with the Paris Agreement. To ensure the scientific legitimacy of the Action Plan, its basis is being formed on the findings and recommendations of international scientific task forces, with the participation of scientists from 25 countries, whose work is coordinated by The Cyprus Institute. In the context of this work, a virtual seminar was organized on the 5th & 6th of July with participation from over 100 scientists that contribute to the Cyprus Government Initiative, international experts, policy-makers...
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2nd PRECEPT Project Press Release: PRECEPT PM Monitors deployed for conducting atmospheric observations at real-life conditions

Three particulate matter (PM) monitors, built under the framework of the PRECEPT project by Additess LTD and the Cyprus Institute are deployed for performing field and aerial , onboard unmanned aerial platforms (UAP) observations. These  three monitors will not only provide high quality data on the size and number of airborne PM, but also valuable feedback on the performance of the first, made in Cyprus, novel and cost effective  PM monitor, under real-life conditions.  The Project POST-DOC/0916/0287 (PRECEPT) https://preceptproject.info is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research...
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EARTH DAY 2021 – The Time for Future is Now

On occasion of Earth Day, The Cyprus Institute calls for a transition to a more sustainable “normal” that safeguards against the unfolding climate crisis. Cyprus and the surrounding region are a climate change hotspot. We have no time to waste. The 22nd of April marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, an international initiative taking place across 175 countries, to promote sustainability for people and planet. As the world’s attention rightly remains firmly focused on tackling the devastating consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, Earth Day highlights the urgency to respond to another global emergency – the climate crisis.  The most crucial takeaway from the global coronavirus response is that time is of the essence. To safeguard our future, we must treat the pandemic as a wake-up call for urgent, coordinated climate action, ensuring recovery is utilized as a chance to build back better.   That is particularly important for Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean and Middle East region which is a climate change...
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The air we breathe is killing us

The air we breathe is killing us

Residents demonstrating against the asphalt plants in Dhali From car emissions to polluting factories, the state is failing its people By Charalampos Theopemptou Source: https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/03/31/the-air-we-breathe-is-killing-us/ People often ask me which is the biggest environmental problem that we face. My answer is that the biggest problem is waste management, but the most pressing issue to solve, is that of the bad air quality we breathe. Proof of this is easy to find. On December 14, 2018, the Cyprus Mail published an article with the title “Living in air-polluted Nicosia will cost residents on average a year of their lives” which carried an interview with Jean Sciare, professor and director of the Energy, Environment, Water Research Centre (EEWRC) at the Cyprus Institute. The Air quality in Europe — 2020 report, published by the European Environment Agency, uses data that it receives from all EU countries. On page 108 it has this table below that indicates the estimated number of premature deaths, which in Cyprus totals more than 800 people per...
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3rd Partner’s Meeting of “Air quality services for a cleaner air in Cyprus -AQ-SERVE” Project

3rd Partner’s Meeting of “Air quality services for a cleaner air in Cyprus -AQ-SERVE” Project

On 19/01/2021 the 3rd Partner’s Meeting of “Air quality services for a cleaner air in Cyprus -AQ-SERVE” Project, took place online and remotely due to Covid-19 situation. The purpose of the3rd Partner’s meeting was: To review the status of the project and to monitor the progress of the work. The meeting assessed the fulfilment of all aspects, both scientific and managerial. To identify issues and risks, and to propose relevant address-actions and contingency planning To keep open lines of communication and foster team building  A review of operational points was presented by the Management Team and the Coordinator. Each project work-package was presented and point to be discussed where elaborated more between the partners. Launched in December 2018, the AQ-SERVE1 project will provide the first-ever risk assessment and evaluation of the health impact of air pollution in Cyprus. AQ-SERVE aims to utilize best-in-class scientific and technological resources to identify the most efficient pollution abatement measures for improving air quality in Cyprus, and enable tangible benefits for public...
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2nd AQ-SERVE Press Release (M18) RPF/INTEGRATED/0916/0016

2nd AQ-SERVE Press Release (M18) RPF/INTEGRATED/0916/0016

Title: Reduced air pollution in Nicosia during lockdown.  NICOSIA, June 2020 - Researchers of the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C) of the Cyprus Institute (www.cyi.ac.cy), with the contribution of the continuous monitoring of major pollutants performed by the Air Quality section of the Cyprus’ Department of Labour in the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance (www.airquality.gov.cy ), investigated air quality in Nicosia during lockdown. It was determined to what extent the decrease of traffic emissions has changed the concentration levels of air pollution in the urban environment.  Preliminary results show that the unprecedented lockdown measures taken in the battle against coronavirus (COVID-19) have triggered a major decrease of air pollution due to local traffic emissions in Nicosia. The researchers focused on two pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), which is derived from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, including those from traffic and biomass burning, and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which come almost exclusively from fossil fuel use. Data were obtained in March,...
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