The few environmental measures announced in the Budget were cautiously welcomed by NGOs, but they expressed concern at the government’s lack of strategic vision for environmental protection.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said environmental measures in the Budget were “random, lacking coherence and planning”.
This contrasted with Twitter comments by Environment Minister Leo Brincat, who said this was “a green Budget” cutting across “various key ministries”.
NGOs did not have high expectations as Finance Minister Edward Scicluna admitted last month that the environment had been “left out” of the pre-Budget document.
“The environmental provisions... seem no more than a half-hearted effort to fill the void in the draft Budget, a Freudian slip revealing the lack of importance this government gives the environment,” FAA said.
Yet, certain measures were welcomed by the organisation as well as Friends of the Earth (Malta) and Din l-Art Ħelwa.
All said it was positive that Comino was mentioned, with DLĦ urging the proposed management scheme to be implemented before summer.
Provisions to reduce traffic congestion were also considered positive. They referred to the staggering of school runs, incentivising car-pooling, the use of electric bicycles and increasing harbour ferry destinations.
The NGOs hope that raising daily fees for cranes will also contribute to diminishing street congestion.
“Taxing the presence on the streets of heavy construction vehicles, such as cranes, will free up roads and speed up the removal of these eyesores and completion of building schemes,” DLĦ said.
Concerns were raised over land reclamation, the Gozo bridge and tunnel and the proposed airfield on the sister island.
The NGOs stressed the need for the publication of studies addressing the impact of these proposals.
The possibility of having “green belts” was welcomed with caution because the measure lacked detail.
FAA defined it as a “questionable promise”, especially following the revised policy on outside development zones that allows construction in areas previously prohibited.
The measure allowing companies to receive a tax rebate when donating to the Malta Community Chest Fund was welcomed but the measure should be extended to all registered NGOs, they said.
The Budget did not only give preferential treatment to the President’s charity, it also discriminated against environmental NGOs by allocating €10,000 to “hunting organisations”, they added.
Din l-Art Ħelwa
“The Budget’s intention to increase social economic development through the introduction of major infrastructural programmes is laudable but this will take its toll on the environment if not approached sensitively.
“Financial, social and environmental studies are necessary and must be published. Measures to protect the landscape and increase biodiversity and regeneration of valleys are steps in the right direction.
“Definite positive moves were the increases in budgets to cultural heritage entities, national theatres and to the arts fund, in particular the increase to €2.5 million from €1.8 million for the restoration of forts, fortifications and historical places. The intention to gain World Heritage Status for Mdina is also very positive.”
Friends of the Earth (Malta)
“We look forward to the introduction of a climate change Bill next year. We believe this is the way forward to ensure the current, and subsequent, governments are committed to act on this issue.
“We hope this process will lead to strong climate change legislation, with clear targets and ambitions to achieve a low-carbon Malta.”