Europe takes the lead

Last Friday's agreed conclusions of the spring European Council, heralding a clear commitment by all the leaders of the European member states to address climate change and moving towards a stronger mix of renewable energies, was a momentous and historic moment for Malta, the European Union and the world in general.

The EU, "taking into consideration different individual circumstances, starting points and potentials", with the unanimity of the 27 leaders of its member states, has endorsed the following targets - "a binding target of a 20 per cent share of renewable energies in overall EU energy consumption by 2020" and "a 10 per cent binding minimum target to be achieved by all member states for the share of biofuels in overall EU transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020".

The issue of climate change has come a long way from Malta's initiative in the United Nations General Assembly in 1988 when the island introduced a resolution under the initial title Conservation Of Climate As Part Of The Common Heritage Of Mankind.

The resolution, as subsequently amended and agreed to, had urged governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and scientific institutions "to treat climate change as a priority issue".

In addressing the issue of global warming with binding commitments, the EU has shown leadership which must now draw to it other major players so that what is a regional effort on an unprecedented scale can become truly global.

The matter is of interest to us all, not least to island states, particularly those which are low lying. The European commitment is good and timely news for all, as we celebrate Commonwealth Day in a Commonwealth that includes in its membership a great number of island states that are intensely affected by climate change.

Indeed, some could actually disappear and be lost to world heritage if global warming goes unchecked.

No wonder Malta's 1988 climate change initiative obtained the immediate sponsorship not only of countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Australia and New Zealand but also of island states such as Fiji, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The strong Commonwealth presence in the co-sponsorship of this resolution is striking.

Malta stands to benefit from the possible critical mass which these targets could create for the deployment and the development of technologies relating to alternative renewable energy.

Such binding targets could therefore, serve as an impetus for major investment in the development of improved and new technologies.

This, in turn, could allow Malta to overcome its inherent geographic limitations - such as a lack of territory and a lack of shallow offshore waters - currently creating difficulties for it to utilise effectively such renewables as energy from the sun and wind.

The EU also stands to gain by seeking a technological lead and creating further employment in a sector based on technical excellence in line with the Lisbon Strategy.

As Foreign Minister, I have now participated with the Prime Minister in quite a number of European Councils of importance to the future of this country, however, rarely have I witnessed such a widespread feeling of elation on reaching agreement on these binding targets. It was truly a spring European Council!