Environmentalists are concerned at the “fragmented” way in which green issues are being handled.
This emerged yesterday during a consultation meeting on the Issues Paper paving the way towards formulating a National Environmental Policy, meant to encompass “all environmental sectors and natural resources”.
The document, fittingly printed on paper originating from farmed sources, lists what are being considered as the main sectors: air, climate change, land, freshwater, coastal and marine environment, resources and waste, biodiversity and “other emerging issues”.
Environmentalist Alfred Baldacchino said there was no real integration between government departments on important environmental issues and problems were either not being tackled effectively or passed around from one department to another.
Some participants appeared to be frustrated at the fact that, so far, their words seemed to be falling on deaf ears and some remarked that the document contained proposals that had been made 10 years ago.
Hydrologist Marco Cremona questioned what had happened to the legislation, policy and guidance document first introduced in 2001 and then in 2004 and asked whether the same would happen with this proposal.
Environment Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, however, was more optimistic and assured those present the government was intent on addressing local problems, not just falling in line with the requirements of EU environmental directives.
He said Malta was taking the environment seriously enough, such that it would be one of the first countries to have a legislative framework, rather than just a plan, on sustainable development.
Dr de Marco, who is also responsible for tourism, said it was time the eco label became compulsory for all new hotels, while old hotels should be helped to reach that standard.
While in agreement with what Dr de Marco said, some environmentalists could not help being a bit sceptical.
Mr Cremona applauded Dr de Marco’s stance but questioned how this tallied with the fact that Malta admitted it would not meet the EU Water Framework’s targets of achieving good water quality status by 2015 and was asking the EU for an extension to 2027.
“This is my main concern with the Environmental Policy, political will. Will the secretariat be able to rope in the support of Cabinet (and the opposition) for this policy when it will inevitably require the implementation of unpopular measures, such as enforcement and pricing of the environmental resource?”
Other participants in the workshop, mostly made up of environmentalists and representatives of civil society, were dismayed that certain important issues were missing. Fish, specifically tuna stocks, were conspicuous by their absence in the biodiversity section.
Environmentalist Julian Por-telli said: “What we’re doing is only concentrating on economic factors. Can you stop a revenue earner of €100 million for Malta? Economic factors over here override other issues.”
In his presentation, Matthew Crowe, from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, said the environment had to remain centre stage. This became more difficult in tough economic times.
“It’s all about planning for our children and their children,” he said.
The document is available to view on www.tsdu.gov.mt/environment-nep and comments can be sent to envpolicy.opm@gov.mt by the end of the month.