Consultation on environment policy launched
The government has published a consultation document on a National Environment Policy for the years 2011-2020.
The document was launched this afternoon during a press conference by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.
The objectives of the policy are:
"To provide direction in the environment field to both the public and private sector and other players;
"Ensure the integration of all policies such that all stakeholders work in a coordinated manner;
"Achieve national objectives, not only in the environmental field but also in areas that impact upon or are impacted by the environment, exploiting synergies and addressing potential conflicts across sectors, articulate and communicate national environmental commitments and objectives in a
transparent manner."
The document takes into account all existing national, European and multinational obligations and integrates and prioritises environmental activities for the period 2011-2020, with a special focus on improving policy implementation in the environmental field, and on the links between the environment and the economy.
The National Environment Policy also integrates sectoral environmental policies such as the already-drafted Air Quality Plan and Waste Strategy, as well as plans in preparation, such as the waste reduction plan, indicating their contribution to overall national environmental policy goals.
The document can be seen by clicking the pdf below
Attached files
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Joseph Camilleri
Sep 6th 2011, 12:37
If I am reading this correctly, government seems to be aiming at ensuring that all government departments put environment on their agenda. Surely, this should give MEPA a better opportunity to show its mettle given that other departmens are being instigated to be greener. To give one example: speed cameras may be a good thing (they stop ppl driving excessivly) but environmentally, they are not good since they encourage deceleration and accelleration, therefore raising emmissions. Solution? in this case, wider capture cameras so that those slowing down for the camera will not be saved. This is how a decision can be made greener. This is what I hope this overarching policy will achieve.
Albert Bezzina
Sep 5th 2011, 19:28
Closing the gate after the horses have bolted!
Bernard Storace
Sep 5th 2011, 17:58
I thought MEPA is supposed to safeguard our environment or is this an admission on the part of the govt that MEPA is a useless tool when it comes to the environment and the safeguarding of it. MEPA has proven to be of immense help to developers, especially those bent on destroying what is left of our natural habitat with numerous examples to back this up. Trees are being viciously destroyed in the name of progress and when possible are being replaced with bushes and plants. Roads are being narrowed, pavements widened, priority being given to monstrous buses in spite of the fact that car owners fork out more than Arriva which actually get a grant to lord it over us. More traffic jams, more fumes and less trees to soak it all up. ECO, ECO or is it ECHOoooooo?
Mr Alexander Pace Gouder.
Sep 5th 2011, 16:01
The Prime Minister and Parl.Sec.Mario De Marco should came and pay a visit to Il-Rampa Ta'San Giljan at Balluta to see for themselves the disastrous state this area is in - Its useless to publish consultation documents on the Environment when although the attention is drawn to whoever is concerned instead of taking care to safeguard the environment the opposit takes place. One example - The unbuilt site( for over a year now) a two story hollow, which has been turned into a dump just at the entrance of Ir-Rampa to be more exect as you enter for The Hotel from Balluta Square side. Action is needed not written words.