By Eleni Panayiotou

Vienna once again hosted one of the world’s most influential climate conferences – the Austrian World Summit (AWS). In its ninth year, the event was organised by the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and proudly held under the patronage of Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

As a participant at the AWS, the message for me was clear: the fight against pollution requires all of us. Not just politicians. Not just scientists. Everyone.

“‘Our planet is not the responsibility of individual countries, parties or groups – or even individual people. It is the responsibility of all of us. The climate crisis is a major threat, that unites us all. And environmental protection is a major task that unites us all,” said Van der Bellen, urging unity beyond politics.

Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker added, “Climate knows no borders,” reminding us that pollution in one region affects the entire planet.

“This requires us all to act together. Every contribution counts – be it innovative ideas, sustainable action or a commitment to protecting our natural environment.” 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was equally direct: “The science is on our side […] But to succeed, we must unite in action,” he said.

The call to unite wasn’t just metaphorical. It was urgent.

An inspirational Arnold Schwarzenegger, and longtime champion of environmental causes, didn’t hold back.

“Stop whining,” he told the audience. “We need heroes, not complainers.”

His point was simple: take responsibility. Don’t blame your neighbour for throwing the rubbish in the road, do something about it, clean it up. Don’t point fingers and proclaim that your town, your village, your neighbourhood aren’t clean. Clean them up!

It’s not easy, I know. But though risking sounding like another cliche, every little does make a difference.

Across Europe, that message is already slowly being put into practice. Here in Cyprus, Isotech Ltd participates in two standout initiatives that prove how collaboration can deliver real-world results. One is the SeaClear 2.0 project which uses autonomous underwater robots to identify and remove marine litter from the Mediterranean sea.

But it’s not just about high-tech tools – it’s also about people. Community engagement is a core part of the project, from local beach cleanups to educational campaigns that teach the public how to reduce plastic use and protect marine life. And the other is MAGICBIOMAT, another innovative initiative, where through the development of AI powered software it will guide the design and manufacturing of novel biodegradable materials that break down safely in the environment. Think agricultural mulching films that don’t leave microplastics in the soil, or packaging that disappears without a trace. It’s science meeting sustainability – and it only works through cooperation between researchers, manufacturers, and regulators.

The Austrian World Summit reminded us that change starts with unity. But it doesn’t end there. It moves forward through action – local, global, personal. As the Austrian President Van der Bellen said, “We are all in the same boat. And the water, quite literally, is rising.” But with courage, cooperation and commitment, we can keep it afloat – and steer it toward a cleaner, healthier future.

Eleni Panayiotou is Communications Manager at Isotech Ltd, journalist & media strategist