Myrto Skouroupathi, a Cypriot environmental engineer, plays a major role in the country’s environmental conservation efforts as both a professional and an activist. Her work on the connection between climate change, renewable energy, and social justice, along with her activism with Young Friends of the Earth Cyprus, brings environmental issues in Cyprus into political and cultural discussions.
Trips with her father shaped her love for nature, which transformed her into an environmentalist who inspired her peers to practice environmental conservation. Her enthusiasm only increased during her university years at University College London (UCL), where she studied environmental engineering, became active with the student network People and Planet, and discovered the influence of organising for environmental and social change.
“It all goes back to the story of how much love and admiration I have about life and nature, I don’t want this to be gone,” she explained, reflecting on the origins of her activism, sharing that for her, environmental campaigning is about defending all forms of life, and not just the physical environment.
Myrto joined the Cyprus Energy Agency as an environmental engineer and project manager in 2017. She has also served as the Agency’s Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Mobility Coordinator since 2023. In this role, she contributes to European co-funded projects, trains communities, and leads initiatives that address pressing issues such as energy poverty. Among her current projects is one aimed at reducing youth unemployment by creating green jobs, as well as an investment that targets individuals with disabilities who are under the Resilience and Recovery Plan of Cyprus.
The environmentalist’s vision for Cyprus consists of a 100% renewable island that is powered by decentralised energy, with her stressing that, apart from the technology, the goal is also about empowering communities. Myrto believes that renewable energy functions at its best at a local level. This approach is most effective when it is linked with sustainable farming, circular economy practices, and resource management. “This will give people the feeling of being heard, having a voice and opportunity to communicate,” she argues, envisioning Cyprus as a test bed for community-driven sustainability.
However, despite her relentless optimism, she also acknowledges the difficulties faced by the country, including public apathy and the predominant political culture that stifles both environmental and social issues. Nevertheless, Myrto remains hopeful, looking at the increasing number of youths who are mobilising around climate and environmental justice, such as the 2018 march, where over 500 individuals took part in a demonstration to protect the country’s natural heritage.
In addition to renewable energy, the Cypriot has also worked with Young Friends of the Earth Cyprus and campaigns against extractive industries and trade deals like CETA, which she believes could have harmful human and environmental consequences. She has also spoken out against the risks of natural gas exploration and quarry expansions to ecosystems and communities.
Inequality questions intertwine with Mytro’s battle against climate injustice. She is vocal about intersectionality—recognizing how gender, class, disability, immigration status, and other identities overlap in systems of oppression.
Myrto’s contribution also lies in creating links between environmental engineering, activism, and education. As a member of the EIT Climate-KIC Network of Coaches, she has also influenced a generation of youth to link sustainability with social justice, arguing that climate change is not merely about reducing emissions or protecting wildlife, but also about addressing inequalities, developing sustainable livelihoods, and restructuring societies.
