EU Climate Change Awareness Campaign

"You Control Climate Change", a campaign organised by the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment, will be launched in Malta tomorrow. The Press Officer of the Commission's representation in Malta, Edward Demicoli, and MEPA's head of EU and Multilateral Affairs, and EU 'Green Spider' Marie Briguglio, spoke to The Sunday Times about the campaign.

What will the 'You Control Climate Change' campaign aim to achieve?

The campaign is addressed to citizens and its main objective is to improve awareness and understanding of climate change and to motivate people to make small but significant changes to their daily routine.

The last Eurobarometer on Environment (concluded in 2004) showed that 43 per cent of Europeans often make an effort to protect the environment, whereas 57 per cent were less than fully active. The objective is to reach out and increase the percentage of fully active citizens.

What does your role as a 'green spider' involve?

The Green Spider Network is a network-supported by the Environment DG of the European Commission. It is an active network of representatives of environment ministries and national environmental agencies/institutes, who are involved in environmental information and communication, in almost all European countries (EU member states, accession countries and others that fall outside of these two categories).

For the past two years I have also formed part of the Core Group which leads the network, and collectively makes decisions on behalf of the network.

What will be happening at tomorrow's launch?

Tomorrow, Malta will join all the other member states to launch the campaign. Huge banners with the campaign slogan have been wrapped around buildings, buses and billboards and will be unveiled.

Some member states will dress famous statues in Climate Change T-shirts, some will hold cycling events, roller-parades, television talk shows, and press conferences.

Famous personalities, pop groups, artists and VIPs have been roped in throughout Europe to launch the campaign. In our case, the event will take place at the Valletta Waterfront Laguna.

Appropriately, as we are surrounded by sea, a moored barge will be used to display the banner which will measure 13 metres by six and will act as a backdrop for the event. There will be various key players and stakeholders and some 100 children from various primary schools, who will be invited to a live debate and quiz on climate change.

Why is climate change happening?

There are two factors that lead to climate change: natural effects and man-made effects. In the case of man-made effects, emissions of "greenhouse gases" have increased so much that they have accumulated in the earth's atmosphere and energy is entrapped within the Earth's atmosphere rather than being reflected back into space.

Emissions of greenhouse gases mainly come from energy activity - mainly the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation and transport - industrial processes, certain agricultural practices and waste (such as emissions from degrading waste in landfills).

Cutting down trees decreases the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere and therefore makes the problem worse!

What will be the short- and long-term effects of not tackling the issue?

The effects of climate change come in different forms for different regions. The main negative effects of climate change are expected to be sea level rise which will result in loss of coastal regions, increased erosion and greater inundation, increased global temperatures which will stress life and cause melting of the ice caps and glaciers, and changes in precipitation patterns with possible increased incidence of flooding and drought/desertification.

These effects go beyond the environment to economic and social implications and some are already being felt.

Is it already too late?

Changes in greenhouse gas concentrations have already occurred due to human activity, and these changes will be reflected in climatic changes even if emissions are stopped immediately. But if emissions are controlled through small individual efforts, through government intervention and through concerted global actions, then the degree of the future impacts on the climate can be reduced.

What tips can you give individuals to help them contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

The campaign slogan puts it very succinctly: Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk. Change!

What is the role of the European Commission on the issue of climate change?

The European Union is a leader in the international sphere on bringing about a greater awareness on this issue. Climate change is something that is happening. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that the cause is emissions of greenhouse gases from human activity.

These constantly increasing emissions are responsible for an increase in temperatures.

For the European Union the strategy to combat climate change represents a four-fold challenge: the climate risk itself and the political will to face up to it, international participation in efforts to tackle climate change, the innovation needed for changes in the production and use of energy, and adaptation of countries to the unavoidable effects of climate change.

What are the benefits of such a strategy?

The benefits of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions stem mainly from the prevention of damage resulting from climate change, such as an increase in sea levels and flooding, greater pressure on drinking water resources, health risks, changes in ecosystems, adverse effects on economies based on agriculture or tourism, increased likelihood of fires and extreme weather events (storms, heatwaves), resulting increase in insurance costs and expenditure, etc.

What is the Commission's role in this campaign?

The "You Control Climate Change" campaign is a campaign launched by the European Union's Environment DG and is aimed at all the citizens of Europe because finally we all have a part to play in securing a better future for all of us.

Studies have shown that 16 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe can be attributed directly to households.

Climate change is a priority for Europe and this campaign makes clear to what extent we are all responsible for this phenomenon. We are informing the citizen of what he or she can do to limit the harm we are doing to our environment.