The greening of the government

The public sector is run by fellow citizens who hopefully share most of the values of the rest of us. Philip von Brockdorff's piece, entitled The Green Credentials Of The Public Service, thus made good reading as it underlined the fact that the perceived mismatch between the values of the common citizen and those espoused by the public service has hopefully embarked on a shrinking phase.

It is fair to state that some areas have been or are being seen to. But it is also reasonable to stress that this is so little when compared to what still requires to be done. Primarily this is due to having been late in catching the bus and also because some are not yet convinced they are on board the right bus.

For far too long the environment has been considered as an issue expendable within the context of short-term politics. It has now been promoted, such that (apparently) it merits much more importance. This is exclusively due to the obligations arising from EU membership. There is, however, a consistently perceived reluctance to act.

The correspondent makes the case for eco-efficiency in public service housekeeping and rightly so. The appointment of the green leaders, the commitment to waste separation and recycling initiatives as well as the first steps in establishing a Green Public Procurement Policy are all laudable initiatives.

But the fundamentals are still to be tackled. Glaring inertia is evident in the greening of policy such that one doubts whether there exists the political will to proceed. The greening of government is the role of all ministries and not just that responsible for the environment. I will illustrate this with a couple of examples.

The overhaul of the public transport system has been on the agenda for far too long, yet no appreciable improvement has been forthcoming. The number of private cars on our roads has been on the increase in view of the fact that the public transport system is not yet seen as reliable. Yet, millions of liri in subsidies are constantly injected into the system. It is a case of no value for money.

The Halcrow report commissioned by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), entitled Re-organisation Of Bus Services In Malta, details the steps required to reorganise the public transport system. On their own, however, the Halcrow proposals are insufficient in the process of greening transport policy. They have to be supplemented by policies that effectively encourage car owners not to use private cars but to revert to the public transport system.

The introduction of environmental taxes on the use of private cars is in my view the only effective action possible. This can be brought about by redesigning the car registration taxes such that they are applicable in a variable manner depending on the environmental impacts of the different cars. This would address what the 2006 State of the Environment Report describes as one of the major environmental impacts in Malta. The government, so far, has been reluctant to act.

Successive governments have fuelled the craze for home ownership and simultaneously procrastinated on a serious reform of our archaic rent laws. This is also reflected in the emphasis of the Housing Authority on home ownership issues rather than on issues pertaining to the provision of a decent home for all.

The quest for a solution to housing issues was never adequately tempered by a serious consideration of the impact of an ever increasing urban sprawl. (Most of us still remember quite clearly a former minister in the mid-1980s emphasising that those speaking up for the environment were in reality opposed to the construction of housing projects for the working classes.) While the days of distributing free plots of land are thankfully over, we are now faced with the pressures of redevelopment which are, in part, encouraged by the Housing Authority and the commercial banks.

One social problem (the lack of housing provision) has been substituted by two other problems: a glut of residential units and a problem of affordability. With substantial profits being pocketed by the commercial banks and those engaged in speculative activities who, year in year out, post record profits!

The inaction of successive governments on the radical overhaul of rent legislation has driven most of us away from the rental market to the ownership market. This in effect fuelling both social and environmental problems. As a result, it is now difficult to re-establish a healthy rental market.

Within this context we should view in a positive light the National Sustainability Strategy which 15 years after the Rio Summit is still in draft form. The drawing up of this strategy was a useful exercise involving a substantial cross section of society.

The tough part will be its implementation. The most urgent need is the effective coordination of the workings of the different ministries as well as laying the foundations for a long-term perspective as the sound basis for policy making. Being accustomed to myopic short-termism, the implementation will be taxing.

There are, however, positive experiences to look up to. When carrying out the pensions reform, the government took a long-term view in contrast to the short term-one adopted by the opposition.

It is this same attitude that should be adopted in the implementation of the sustainability strategy. The end result will be of benefit to both present and future generations.

The author is an architect and civil engineer, specialising in sustainability and environmental management. He published the book Time For Radical Change. The Introduction Of Eco-Taxation in Malta last November.