Wednesday, 20th August 2008

Climate change committee 'already operational'

A committee made up of experts tasked with drawing up an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was already operational, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs said yesterday.

Reacting to comments by Leo Brincat, the MLP spokesman for the environment, the ministry said the committee of experts features representatives from various ministries, authorities, the University of Malta, Enemalta, the private sector, environmental NGOs as well as an expert in environmental law.

Mr Brincat said the committee was "not enough for the Labour Party". This, he explained, was because the recommendations put forward by the committee would not commit the government to enacting a law on climate change. He also called for engagement with stakeholders.

The ministry said that public opinion would be sought and discussions would be extended to involve all interested parties. The ministry did not exclude that it would consider other methods through which debate on such a relevant theme would be ensured.

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Comments

john fenech (on 20/8/08)

Our environment nemesis is the sum of what is already polluted –quite a lot and that being polluted -very substantial. As regard to the first we have to clean our act; that is stop repeating ourselves and commence by keeping our country clean on a daily basis, through the local government, the local councils, tourist establishments, commerce & industry and all the citizens. This must be kick started by the government and kept on going by all the stake holders.

The Ministry said that it mobilised the Green Wardens to this effect, but these should have been doing this job ages ago! What happened in between?

As regard to the pollution through the GHG, this is mainly from Industry, transport and energy generation. As regard the first we are not the only Nation to find the going in conflict to the economical progress. Transport- so far we only had strikes and promises nothing substantial, as regard to traffic management so far nothing to shout about. Energy generation efficiency so far remained the same; consumption is the same irrespective of the surcharge hike!

The challenge is not ease but if it was three Ministries and the EU would be useless baggage!