Squinted vision

The PN has over the last weekend discussed a policy document which purports to plot the way forward for the next eight years. It highlights a policy based on three pillars (job creation, education and the environment) and six action areas (information technology, the financial sector, tourism, education, manufacturing and health).

Environmental commitment is not to be measured on the basis of policy documents alone. The PN's is to be primarily measured on the basis of its stewardship over the past years in addition to its vision for the future.

The last nine years in my view provide contrasting results. Spurred by the EU, substantial environmental investments have been made. Yet, these have been characterised by a heavy-handed approach which was not only unnecessary but also counter-productive. It revealed that policy makers are as yet unaware that tackling sensitive issues requires stakeholder active involvement all the way and not head-on confrontation.

A case in point is the Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant at Marsascala where government insensitivity reinforced by lack of proper planning created the perfect atmosphere for political manoeuvring. The organised opposition to a project, which is potentially beneficial, was possible due to the fact that the government team lacked a clear vision as of day one.

Going through all 40 pages of the PN document I noted the absence of a discussion on environmental issues. On the basis of the document title I expected that each chapter would pronounce policy options filtered through sustainability criteria and seeking to bring to our attention the zeal of our policy makers in balancing economic, social and environmental issues related to the action areas and Gozo.

The document is in fact an amplification of a speech made by the Prime Minister on May 1, 2007. The environment features prominently in the document title but then almost ebbs to insignificance in the text. The main thrust of the document is job creation in the six indicated areas and Gozo.

There is no evidence that the proposals contained in the National Sustainable Development Strategy that are of relevance have been taken on board. In the document preamble (pp. 8-9) we are told that the family and the environment are basic values to be cherished and protected. It is emphasised that policy success is to be measured not only in terms of economic progress but also in terms of the social and environmental enhancement achieved.

The document informs us as to the substantial number of job opportunities which IT and financial services provide both presently and in the future. It is, however, silent as to why it was considered necessary to reserve part of the SmartCity development for hotels and residential units.

In other parts of the island, hotels are being demolished and redeveloped for residential purposes and an ever-increasing glut of residential units of all types and shapes is available. This aspect of SmartCity is surely neither environmentally-friendly nor sustainable. Yet, the government, led by the PN, has permitted it, ignoring the long-term holistic approach outlined by the Prime Minister himself in his preface to the 2007 pre-budget document.

Tourism (pp. 19-21) is to be milked further. We are rightly told that it is affected by a shabby environment but not one reference is made to its effect on the environment. Given its environmental impacts, is it reasonable to encourage the further expansion of the tourism industry? What initiatives are being proposed to promote eco- and agro-tourism, thereby encouraging alternative tourism with substantially decreased environmental impacts? In a document which trumpets the environment in its title, this is a glaring omission.

The document refers to the need for the transformation of industry (pp. 27-9). It mentions the need to treat locally toxic waste which is currently exported. This is rightly said but the issue should have been tackled long ago, as soon as the decision to attract the pharmaceutical industry to our shores was embarked upon.

When dealing with Gozo (pp. 35-7), the PN document focuses on the investment in projects intended to minimise environmental impacts (sewage purification and waste management). There is fortunately no repetition of the irresponsible ministerial statements made in support for the Hondoq ir-Rummien project. Whether this is a matter of convenience or else one of repentance has still to be seen!

No vision for the future of this country can be considered realistic if it does not take into account environmental issues when conceived.

Vision statements are not realistic when they relegate the environment to an add-on. This is what the PN document does notwithstanding the inclusion of the word "environment" in its title. The PN vision is hence squinted. It needs to be substantially revised and realigned with environmental values. Only then will talking of achieving excellence make sense.

The author is an architect and civil engineer, specialising in sustainability and environmental management.

cacopardocarm@euroweb.net.mt