Malta accepts to participate, negotiates good deal

Charlie Abela

Dec 11th 2009, 19:10

@D Calleja What one needs to keep in mind is that independently of the amount of our emissions, we should try as much as possible to limit this amount. So I fully agree with suggestions to improve drastically the public transport (a reform seems to be on the horizon) but I think that we should also try to go as much as possible towards clean and green energy. We are still in time I think, to change our minds as to which technology the extension of the delimara power station should use. Going for a prototype kind of solution which creates arnd 30 tonnes of waste each day is hardly considered a clean solution. Government should also continue to increase the subsidies on solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels, thus motivate people even more to convert towards these technologies.

Patrick Zahra

Dec 11th 2009, 17:38

We are so committed towards global warming that we are fuelling our new powerstation with heavy fuel oil!

Jesmond Micallef

Dec 11th 2009, 17:01

May I quote : "We wanted to show that for us climate change is not simply empty words. We are showing that despite being small we are also ready to play our part in concrete terms"

Yes indeed. But Malta must continue to introduce clean environmental technologies and philosofies within its day to day business and infrastructure.

So I take the plunge :

The Government should further promote mass transportation - Meaning Public Transport.
I suggest the following:

1) The number of vehicles in Malta should be reduced to just ONE VEHICLE per household.

2) Sharing of passenger space in vehicles. People do not need to carry around 800 kg (average small vehicle mass) of vehicle mass everytime they drive to work with just one occupant. Malta is small as correctly said, so let the "small size" element compete.

I call this the "The Environmental Competitive Advantage". Malta has so much potential here.

Remember Government of Malta that Otto and Diesel Engines found on automobiles are just 30 % efficient at the most. The rest of the fuel energy stored in each cars fuel tank is just wasted ..........wasted !!!

"Size has its advantages" ..............................Malta can simply lead here.................................

D.Calleja

Dec 11th 2009, 14:37

@Charlie Abela

Do you realise that all of Malta's emissions amount to just about 0.1% those of Germany?

I ask you and all ardent environmentalists, What can even a 20% reduction in Malta's emissions achieve on the global scale? Don’t rush for your calculator; I will relieve you of the hassle of working it out. - the answer is zilch!!

To effectively reduce CO2 emissions in the short to medium term, the big polluters have to want to play ball. It is a waste of time involving small developing nations in the formula – this will only play into the hands of the big boys who want to procrastinate and minimize as much as possible their share of the burden.

Concentrate on the real culprits and leave Malta alone!

Charlie Abela

Dec 11th 2009, 10:42

How about topping up this amount by actually doing something which would help in minimising our country's effect on climate change? What about scrapping the idea of utilising heavy fuel or diesel in the new Delimara power station extension and resort to using cleaner technology? http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=ts#/group.php?gid=198460338817

ASpiteri

Dec 11th 2009, 10:24

Considering what other countries will have to pay, it is indeed a good deal...but still remains money down the drain!

Galea. L

Dec 11th 2009, 09:30

So instead of the industrialized countries paying us for the damage they had caused to the global climate and which will result in our low lying areas being inundated we are paying for their disregard for the environment!!!
Good deal my foot Gonzi
No wonder we are in such a dire situation in everything and in all sectors under PN governments.