‘Government ignored good suggestions’

Opposition spokesman on the environment Leo Brincat told Parliament yesterday that the government not only ignored and ridiculed suggestions made by his party for a coordinated strategy on sustainable development but also ignored suggestions made by the government-appointed National Commission for Development.

One needs new aims, targets and indicators which are not catered for in the Bill

Continuing where he left off last Wednesday during the debate in second reading of the Sustainable Development Bill, Mr Brincat said that the commission was subsequently dismantled and its implementation plan report left gathering dust.

The Bill required that a report on sustainable development be tabled before the House. There should also be a parliamentary debate if things were to be made seriously, he said.

One expected the Bill to provide something specific with regard to green jobs and alternative energy. It seemed that green jobs would be a failure just like Smart City.

If such an enabling law was to be taken seriously, the minister should indicate as to who would draft the plan and when such plan would be implemented. The Bill should have incorporated, at least, the basic principles of sustainable development in all policy areas.

Several countries viewed 2020 as their finish line to reach their goals. As an EU member-state, it was the year by which Malta should reach EU goals on alternative energy. This would remain a dream if one did not implement a serious concept of good governance. Mr Brincat said the government should take serious commitment: something, which was lacking under the GonziPN leadership.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, which was constituted by non-political people, drafted a vision of sustainable development. There should be fundamental changes to the governing structures if this was to be implemented. Mr Brincat said that there was a need for more public-private partnerships, which would improve and enhance sustainable development. One needed new aims, targets and indicators yet these were all not catered for in the Bill.

Mr Brincat said that had a Commissioner for Sustainable Development would have been more effective and more cost-effective.

He doubted Minister Mario de Marco’s statement that Malta would reach EU targets on environment when Eurostat showed that Malta, together with Greece, placed last on recovery and recycling data.

The opposition was modest yet ambitious. Malta should imitate the best practices of successful countries. Scotland’s policy on sustainable development was successful: the government had ensured that the commission was an independent advisor. It also kept continuous contact with stakeholders. The policy’s success was the result of good governance, accountability and clear leadership.

The Bill should have contained a more detailed definition of sustainable development and its governance. Concluding, Mr Brincat said that if one worked properly, there could be a step towards a green economy, which would also result in economic growth. The government could turn the challenge to an opportunity. However, it should declare whether it agreed on sustainable development goals based on those provided by the UN.