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The aim of this paper was to review the progress made so far at European level in establishing a European framework on adaptation to climate change and integrating climate change and adaptation considerations into existing and new European policies in the sectors of water resources, biodiversity and agriculture. Furthermore, the advances made in Cyprus up to this point with respect to mainstreaming European policy on adaptation in its national policy, strategies, plans and legislation are assessed. The analysis begins with the overall framework on adaptation and continues with the sectors of water resources, biodiversity and agriculture. The study revealed that a solid framework for promoting and enhancing climate change adaptation action is being systematically built during the last decade in the EU. Action on adaptation has been promoted in the EU through a number of policy-making tools (preparatory acts), such as green papers, white papers, communications, working documents, guidelines and legislative proposals. These tools, although not binding in nature, set the pathway for the integration of climate change adaptation into existing and new legislation. With respect to the actual mainstreaming of adaptation into sectoral policies, this has started to take place during the last 1–2 years. However, the framework has not yet been sufficiently transformed into legally binding goals. As for the progress made so far in Cyprus for integrating adaptation into its policies, plans and strategies, it is recognized that several such documents have been developed and proposed, but until now, none of them have actually been put into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper explores the literary motif of the lifelike statue from antiquity to the 21st century, with the aim to trace its transformation and evolution into a cultural phenomenon that has reclaimed its place in modern popular culture. To accomplish this, the discussion places in the center of attention the Cypriot story of Pygmalion, as it evolves, adapts, transforms through the ages within the framework of different genres and languages. To be more specific, the paper is divided into three main sections. Section 1 explores the statue motif in Ovid’s Pygmalion tale, as it is narrated in Metamorphoses 10. Section 2 draws attention to the reception of this particular Ovidian statue tale in the works of early Christian authors (2nd-4th century AD) which led to its fading into obscurity during the Middle Ages and its re-appearance in English authors of the late Middle Ages and during Renaissance. Section 3 tackles the re-invention of the tale from the 18th century to the 21st century, focusing on selected adaptations in literature, theatre, cinema and television. This paper suggests that the Ovidian storytelling of the most famous statue-tale set, not so much the narrative, but rather the thematic framework of this mythos, with the focus falling on art, transformation, ethics, religious rites, socially accepted behavior, and most importantly the power dynamics between male and female, which has survived in the majority of the post- Ovidian versions. What is more, this paper will argue that the Pygmalion tale has specific artistic, religious, social, ethical and cultural tones embedded in its various versions that are informed not only by the preceding versions, but also by their contemporary literary, religious and socio-cultural context. Each new version is influenced to a degree from its predecessor(s), losing along the way its Cypriot identity, but gaining a wider European and international audience. Thus, the Pygmalion effect transcends the barriers of language, genre, time period because it has always been a story about the power dynamics between the ‘powerful’ and the ‘powerless’, which consistently draws the reader’s and audience’s interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview and assessment of the measures implemented in Cyprus that are considered in order to address the impacts of climate change on the water availability of the country. Considering that an adaptation framework on water resources has not yet been established either at European level or in Cyprus, specific measures that address climate change impacts on water availability, constituted the basis of the analysis. The measures reviewed are in the form of infrastructural works, policy plans and strategies, legislative actions, market-based instruments (e.g. pricing mechanisms and subsidies), technologies and practices, research, as well as awareness and dissemination activities. The measures are assessed based on their effectiveness, their robustness under climate change uncertainty and their sustainability in environmental, economic and social terms. In addition, potential barriers and risks associated to the implementation of the adaptation are identified. The results of the study revealed that although there is a substantial number of adaptation measures in place that are considered to address climate change impacts on water resources and the adaptive capacity of the water sector has considerably increased, the overall vulnerability remains high, as water demand is still not satisfied at certain areas and/or for certain uses, in times of drought. Furthermore, there should be a shift towards a more balanced and integrated approach on water management in Cyprus, according to which demand-side measures are further enhanced, while adverse impacts associated with the implementation of the measures are minimized to the degree possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is expected to reduce water availability in the Mediterranean region and water management needs to adapt to future conditions. The aims of this study were (1) to develop a participatory approach for identifying and evaluating management options for river basin climate adaptation and (2) to apply and evaluate the approach in four case-study river basins across the Mediterranean. As part of the approach, a diverse group of stakeholders joined a series of workshops and consultations in four river basins located in Cyprus, Slovenia, Spain and Tunisia. In each river basin, stakeholders expressed their views on challenges in their river basins, as well as options to tackle these challenges. We used the information on challenges, as well as the factors contributing to these challenges to develop a fuzzy cognitive map for each basin. These maps were converted into mathematical models and were used to assess the impact of a total of 102 suggested management options for the four river basins. We linked the options and their estimated impacts with a multi-criteria analysis to identify the most preferred options. The approach was positively evaluated by the participating stakeholders and allowed the link of stakeholders' knowledge and perceptions about their river basin with their preferences for options to adapt the management of their river basins to future conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the impacts of climate change on the water resources of Cyprus with special emphasis on water availability and to evaluate the capacity of the resource itself, as well as of the government and people in Cyprus to adapt to climate change. The methodology followed includes the recording of the baseline situation and the assessment of climate change impacts and vulnerabilities. For the assessment, climate projections produced by regional climate models were used. The climate change factors, which are considered to affect the water resources in Cyprus, refer to the increase in temperature, the decrease in precipitation as well as the increase in droughts and in heavy rainfall. For the impact assessment, the changes in river and groundwater flows as well as other WSIs were studied. For the adaptation assessment, the degree of freshwater and non-freshwater resources exploitation and the measures for water demand reduction and the enhancement of drought preparedness were examined. At first, priorities with regard to climate change vulnerability, the water availability for domestic water supply and irrigation in mountain areas and the water availability for irrigation in plain and coastal areas were identified, while water availability for domestic water supply was estimated to present limited vulnerability to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the quantification of climate change (CC) effects on agricultural water availability in Cyprus. Projections of climatic variables, based on Regional Climate Models (RCMs) forced by the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5, were used as CC driving forces affecting water availability. Groundwater flow models were developed for specific high-interest agricultural areas in Larnaca and Paphos to assess the CC impacts on these groundwater systems, while the Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) analysis was also adopted, for the first time in Cyprus, to assess future trends of water reservoir storage under the projected climatic conditions. Considering the current cultivation and irrigation practices, a decrease in groundwater level close to 1 m and further inland seawater intrusion in Larnaca aquifers are expected, while in Paphos' aquifers, the predicted water table fluctuations are not significant. Additionally, SPEI values at the Asprokemos and Kouris dams are correlated with water storage measurements, showing that a SPEI downward trend observed in these reservoirs could set off an alarm to the water authorities with respect to water availability as more severe drought events are expected in the future. The expected pressure on surface waters imposes the need for an improved water management plan that will not depend on the further exploitation of groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]