The Nationalist Party welcomed the Climate Action bill which it said it would support but said it expected the government to take a more ambitious attitude.

In a statement this morning, climate change spokesman Charlo Bonnici said the effort to regulate climate action within a legal framework was a continuation of the process embarked upon by the previous administration.

He said that the proposed text, though agreeable, provided very little perspective of why the act was essential for a small nation which contributed little to world emissions but was considered especially vulnerable to its effects.

“The Nationalist Party is expecting the government to take a more ambitious attitude on issues relating to the future well-being of our future generations.

“Though a good start, it is a far cry from what the Labour Party used to talk about and promise when in Opposition. Much more was expected from a government which had boasted of having so many roadmaps including one on environmental issues,” Mr Bonnici said.

He said the bill relied solely on imposed targets and commitments the government might, from time to time, agree to at a European and international level.

The PN was proposing a ‘target setting mechanism’ independent of other processes at EU or international level to provide the government with guidance on what measures to adopt and implement.

The bill, Mr Bonnici said, also did not specifically provide for the government to regulate its own action in mitigating greenhouse gases.

 The PN welcomed the proposed climate fund but said it was seemingly disrespectful for the government to expect this to be mainly used to fulfil the government’s obligations under EU and international law.

The fund should finance action beyond what was already committed to by the government, Mr Bonnici said.