Climate change strategy proposes measures to ease congestion

Road repair and maintenance works should not take place during peak traffic hours and bottle necks should be removed from important junctions to avoid generating more congestion, a proposed strategy to address climate change says.

The national strategy, outlined in a detailed 241-page report, also suggests staggering the working hours of government employees who work in Floriana and Valletta and the opening and closing hours of state schools to alleviate congestion and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

These are among the 87 recommendations launched yesterday for public consultation to ensure that Malta cleans up its act and reaches the EU's climate change targets for 2020.

The report touches upon various areas such as efficient lighting, alternative energy sources, waste management, water and electricity and information campaigns. It also includes a "roadmap" that outlines the timelines of the implementation of the individual recommendations.

Besides the ecological and social repercussions, climate change is closely intertwined with economic concerns, said David Spiteri Gingell, the chairman of the Climate Change Committee commissioned to draw up the report.

As an EU member state, Malta is committed to reaching certain carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions by 2020 - including reducing CO2 levels by 20 per cent from the level recorded in 1990 and ensuring that 10 per cent of energy is generated from clean sources of alternative energy. In the sector of transport, agriculture and waste management Malta pledged that, by 2020, gas emissions will be not more that five per cent higher than those of 2005.

Failing to reach such targets would have negative economic repercussions so inaction is not an option, Mr Spiteri Gingell added.

Through the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) CO2 allowances will be traded on the market. In essence, this implies that the cost of energy will include the cost of fuel on the market, plus the cost of production, as well as the cost of CO2 emissions to be bought from other EU countries through the ETS if the 2020 targets are not reached. The report - entitled National Strategy for Policy and Abatement Measures Relating to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions - had been commissioned by Resources' Minister George Pullicino last June specifically under the briefing to work within the parameters of the 2020 targets.

Once the eight-week public consultation period ends the document will be discussed in Parliament where, hopefully, there will be a general consensus in the national interest, Minster Pullicino said adding that this was not to be reduced to a political issue. "I hope that when the time comes to actually implement the measures the country will be mature enough to recognise the importance of such measures on an economical and environmental scale," he said.

He insisted that, since Malta was bound by the EU targets, there was no need for a law on climate change. The comment was a reference to the Private Members' Bill on Climate Change tabled by Labour MP Leo Brincat.

Mr Pullicino said that while he did not oppose having a Bill, he believed the committee's report should be discussed first, through public consultation during which time it will also be presented to the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The complete document can be seen on www.climatechange.gov.mt.

Some of the Climate Change Committee's recommendations:

• Setting up a national statistics framework on Climate Change;

• Opening a Climate Change Department within the Resources' Ministry to include a one-stop-shop portal that provides reviews on new technologies;

• Targets for government departments and authorities;

• The Office of Fair Competition should periodically survey prices of energy efficient technologies;

• Substitute fuel oil for natural gas;

• Commission sub-sea electricity interconnector between Malta and Sicily;

• Implement smart water and electricity meters;

• Introduce a system of differentiated tariffs for non-peak hours;

• Ensure that 75 per cent of household and office lighting is energy efficient;

• Strengthen the enforcement of energy efficient building construction;

• Establish a traffic information centre;

• Emphasis on achieving the necessary culture change towards the environment and the 2020 goals;

• Draw up a National Policy on Environment Education this year.