Eco-Malta in the making?

It was indeed a pleasure, recently, to participate in a public consultation meeting that focused on an Issues Paper designed as an initial step towards formulating a national environment policy and drafted by a team from the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the Environment and Culture within the OPM.

The background to the Issues Paper is the outcome from three main sources – the Environment Report 2008 (TER08), a Public Attitude Survey prepared by Ernst and Young published in 2008 and the parliamentary debate on the TER08 itself.

In Mario de Marco’s own words the ultimate aim in implementing a national environment policy is for Malta to go beyond its obligations under the numerous EU environmental directives and related legislation. An ambitious target indeed, it must be admitted, and halfway through the legislature. Given such a target and irrespective of whether time is on Dr de Marco’s side, which should be after all a matter of secondary importance if one is to put the environment as first and foremost, the task ahead for the present and any future administration beyond the next general election is surely daunting. Going beyond our EU legislative remit on the environment is certainly no piece of cake – but that does not mean we should shy away from the challenge.

If Malta truly intends to be primus inter pares in the environment we must certainly tackle head-on, and as a priority, the disparity that exists between environmental protection and development. Is it contentious to argue that over the years the construction industry has almost literally taken over the islands, and the resulting building surplus has transformed various areas into one massive concrete jungle? The pros­pect of tower cranes hovering over one’s head when the building next door is demolished to be transformed into some high-rise apartment block has become any ordinary citizen’s nightmare. But this is not just about the inevitable clutter the construction industry brings about, together with the noise, dust and air pollution by heavy vehicles that more often than not tend to make our lives miserable on our way to work and back. In seemingly wanting to in­stil a radical green vision for Malta, where the ordinary citizen would be expected to adopt a green philosophy of life, Dr de Marco must certainly assume that first of all the government is there to set the example.

The operative word is implementation. To some extent we may seem to have turned a capricious blind eye on urban sprawl, we acknowledge and have enough evidence suggesting that air quality standards have deteriorated unacceptably especially in urban areas with high traffic density; for years we have argued nonsense about golf courses despite the pitiful state of our groundwater supplies and what it costs us to produce potable water, while at the same time Malta probably holds Europe’s record in terms of consultation documents and reports on all sectors published per capita! The work done so far in drafting the Issues Paper published by Dr de Marco’s team should not be demeaned; far from it – it is a commendable effort in the right direction.

But it should be pointed out that there have been several other analytical reports and action plans on the state of our islands’ environment in recent years most of which still lack proper implementation. What’s on with the National Commission for Sustainable Development, for example? And what about the Scicluna Report on Malta’s environmental deficit published in April 2008 that had already made it crystal clear that the existing fragmentation in Malta’s environmental sector and lack of coordination between the various entities affecting the state of the environment – Enemalta, WSC, Mepa, MRA and others – is no longer tenable?

What may be needed is a proper mechanism enabling the systematic achievement of long-term environmental targets through achievable short- to medium-term objectives. Postulating about 2020, 2030 or 2050 as if tomorrow never comes is pie in the sky! Judging by the courageous goal of being first among equals to go beyond the remit of EU environmental legislation, the government’s botching of an Opposition proposal meant to pave the way towards enacting national legislation on climate change must certainly have been a missed golden opportunity.

Detailed clarification may still be needed with regard to the extent to which Malta’s national climate change strategy, approved unanimously by Parliament in September 2009, is being implemented as had originally been intended.

The formulation, but most of all the implementation, of a National Environment Policy based on parliamentary consensus presents us with a remarkable challenge while providing fertile ground for a host of economic opportunities. Malta’s green vision should go beyond improving or safeguarding the status of Malta’s natural, urban and historical heritage; in the emerging post-global recession era, it should catalyse Malta’s efforts towards transforming itself into a low-carbon economy, the development of a green job market and optimum energy efficiency. No, not just hot air! Is it eco-Malta in the making?

sapulis@gmail.com

The author specialises in environmental management.