Environment NGOs this morning urged the government to do more for climate change, and they criticised Valletta council for refusing them a permit to hold a climate change activity on the Palace square.

Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti Greenhouse held a press conference this morning to mark World Climate Change Day and to raise awareness about the climate change conference currently being held in Cancun.

They had also wanted to erect stands and present street theatre in St George's Square.

"Unfortunately the event had to be called off as the Valletta Local Council refused to grant a permit for the event," Martin Galea De Giovanni, chairman of Friends of the Earth said.

He said the NGOs originally applied to use Victory Square, but since that was taken up, they sought a permit to use St George's Square.

The council kept asking them for details about the event and yesterday turned down the permit without giving reasons, he said.

However Mr De Giovanni suspected the reason was linked with Christmas events in the capital, even though the square is currently not in use. He said the Mayor had indicated that it would have been better had the event been planned for January.

Valletta Mayor Alexei Dingli confirmed when contacted that the permit could not be issued because of Christmas activities in the capital, saying the council had no issues with the NGOs. He regretted that the NGOs had only given the council details of their plans two days ago. Before that they only said they would hold 'peaceful' activities and when the council asked them what they meant, they supplied a dictionary definition of 'peaceful'.

The three NGOs argued that climate change should be tackled at all levels, starting from an individual level to the global.

"On a local level, we need to look into changing our habits and adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. Such change in attitude will not only benefit the environment but also makes economic sense," the NGOs said in a statement.

"Why are we willing to invest in expensive and polluting cars but are then not willing to invest in renewable energy sources and energy efficient appliances which make more financial sense? The age of irresponsible consumption is over; if we are not willing to do our part how should we expect politicians and businesses to lead. On a national level, the government should have a clearer and more effective policy on carbon emissions. This requires shifting from heavy expenditure on projects that do not reduce our emissions level to more projects that do. Malta is still considered a carbon dinosaur with its biggest sources of emissions coming from our oil-burning power stations and from land transport.

"Our country needs to look into having more efficient ways in the use of energy generated. This has to move decisively towards maximum utilisation of renewable energy sources and usage of efficient, low-emission land transport. There is urgent need to improve the efficiency of our main generating equipment. The Delimara extension - using diesel and not HFO - will provide a first improvement. The interconnector from Sicily, if supplied by a natural gas power station, will also improve matters: a net cut back of perhaps 0.5 million tonnes CO2 from 2.1 million."

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