Fiona Galea Debono
What's green and grabs you?
Government launches consultation document on environmental issues
The public is being invited to provide feedback on a document that identifies the country's environmental issues in the run-up to the creation of a national policy by the middle of next year.
People are being asked whether the environment has been exploited beyond its limits, what is expected from the national policy and their views on the need to move towards a pollution tax, among others.
The questions in the document, called an Issues Paper, which has been drafted over recent months, mark the first phase of the "wide" consultation process that was launched yesterday by Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Mario de Marco, and is open for reactions from stakeholders until the end of September.
Dr de Marco is urging wide participation and is also organising a series of meetings with government entities and environmental NGOs.
Air, climate, land and fresh water are among the issues listed in the document, which delves into threatened cultural landscapes and the high level of vacant property. Other emerging concerns include the low level of awareness of radiation and Malta's preparedness for a disaster.
The first consultation phase should culminate in a conference, which will be followed up by the identification of challenges, opportunities and the economic impact of addressing the issues identified, before the final drafting of the policy.
Dr de Marco said the country's environment was governed by around 200 EU directives, which impose 2,000 obligations. But the policy would identify and address what was specific to Malta.
In a reaction to the launch of the consultation process, Labour's spokesman for the environment Leo Brincat pointed out that, in reality, Malta was still far from reaching the minimum that was expected of it.
The Issues Paper can be accessed on www.tsdu.gov.mt/environment-nep. It sets consultation questions, which can be answered via e-mail on envpolicy.opm@gov.mt or sent to the NEP Coordination Office, Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
R.Borg
Jul 28th 2010, 16:35
SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND ACTION
a) the historic Floriana granaries should not be allowed to deteriorate any more; stop major manifestations 'di massa';
b) cars should not be allowed to park on pavements both during the day and during the night;
c) the thousand of cigarette ends thrown all over the country should be controlled and managed better;
d) plastic bags etc strewn all over the area near the Floriana open-air market irresponsabbly on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings should be controlled;
e) vandals should not be allowed anymore to exercise their profession in gardens and playground areas and other places;
f) public gardens should be defended from becoming dumping sites for syringes used by drug users;
g) Streets should not be used for the washing of cars;
h) Floriana, for example, has become the dirthiest area in Malta where its streets and corner have been transformed into litter zones;
i) In many towns and villages rediffusion, old telephone and electricity wires etc are ruining the environment
MORE IDEAS TO COME IN THE FUTURE.
david debattista
Jul 28th 2010, 16:05
Better late than never! So lets do our part and speak out telling Mepa of our concern and fears
when it comes to the environment. It is a positive move.
N.Pace
Jul 28th 2010, 15:18
hehe.......lets start from an incredible work permit granted for a development in il wied tal bahrija, then lets continue with countless of properties being erected all over our country without mepa ever given permits or even has taken action to remove, insomma nghamel lista twila u qas nieqaf
Steve Zammit
Jul 28th 2010, 14:55
Dr De Marco,
Some good quotes :
''We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.'' ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
Protect our water, aquifers, all new buildings should have wells, water conservation and stop drying our valleys due to watter run-off and over-pumping.
''We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.'' ~Native American Proverb
Always keep in mind what we do. For every action there is a consequence. Please take care of our little island.
''When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.'' ~David Orr
Taking care of our surrounding environment is only in the end going to help us live a better and healthier life. Look around you and one realises that if everyone did his/her part we will be living in a better place.
And last but definetly not least stop letting Malta turn into a CONCRETE JUNGLE!
We need open spaces and recreational areas and not concrete appartments that remain empty for years!.
Thank you