Committee to prepare for impact of climate change

The Resources Ministry has set up a committee to propose measures which Malta may take to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Experts have said that climate change is expected to have an impact on various sectors of the economy. Warmer temperatures will impact agriculture and tourism, especially if it gets too hot. That would also have an impact on health. One could also see the presence of new pests. Changes in rain patterns would also affect water production.

Resources Minister George Pullicino explained this morning that Malta, as a small island, was vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and the government was taking initiatives to prepare the country as best as possible to meet and satisfy its various international obligations whether at EU and UN level.

Among the initiatives were the 'Energy Proposal for Malta', the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, the revised Solid Waste Management Strategy and the draft national strategy for policy and abatement measures to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

The new committee would draw up a strategy for adaptation to climate change.

The EU Commission recently issued the White Paper titled 'Adapting to Climate Change: Towards a European Framework for Action.'

The Malta strategy will focus on areas that are being adversely affected by climate change such as health and socio-economic policy, water and flooding, biodiversity and agriculture.

The Committee will propose abatement measures that Malta is to adopt with regards to adaptation to climate change and to prioritise the implementation of such measures.

Mr Spiteri Gingell used to chair the committee tasked with proposing abatement measures relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The committee presented its report to the government recenty.

The committee will be chaired by David Spiteri Gingell. The other members will be Martin Seychell, Director, Environment Protection Directorate,Prof Charles Sammut, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and the National Project Manager, 2nd National Communication to the UN Dr George Attard, Director of the Institute of Agriculture, Ing. Mark Micallef from the Water Services Corporation, Dr Roberto Debono a researcher in the field of climate change and health, Ing. Marco Cremona, an expert on water sources, hotelier Hans Cauchi, Dr Simone Borg, Consultant in Environmental Law, and George Camilleri, a representative of the Environmental NGOs.