Cyprus Environment and Animal Welfare Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou praised the role of photography in promoting environmental awareness during the opening of the “CIDPC 2025” international digital photography exhibition.
The address, delivered on her behalf by staff member Yianna Ioannidou, noted the long-standing contribution of the Cyprus Photographic Society, which has organised the competition for more than 15 years and has built a strong international reputation.
Theodosiou said photography is a powerful tool for documenting reality, raising awareness and sparking public dialogue, particularly on environmental issues. Images, she said, can reveal both the beauty of Cyprus’s natural landscape and the pressures it faces, including ecosystem degradation, climate impacts and threats to wildlife.
She highlighted past collaborations between her office and the Photographic Society, including competitions on the Pedieos River ecosystem, traditional dry‑stone structures in Limassol and inland water habitats. She said the partnership will continue this year through the second Pedieos Sustainability Festival, which forms part of Cyprus’s EU Council presidency programme and will include a new photography competition.
The exhibition’s category “People in Focus,” featuring entries from 52 countries, underscores photography’s ability to capture the complexity of the modern world, she said, adding that environmental challenges transcend borders and require shared responsibility.
Theodosiou congratulated all participants, award recipients, jury members and the Cyprus Photographic Society for their ongoing contribution to the island’s photographic culture.