The plan is to have 10,000 green jobs by 2015, according to the environment policy – a 50 per cent increase on the number available today.

This will be done with the help of a green jobs’ strategy and a green jobs’ training strategy, which must be complete by next year, as well as setting up an “incubator” for green industries by 2014 which will dovetail with Malta Enterprise initiatives.

According to the policy document, in 2007 there were 4,152 green jobs registered, a figure growing by about six per cent per year. The sectors of water supply, solid waste management and liquid waste management were the largest contributors but there were also many businesses employing staff to help them manage their environmental impact.

Meanwhile, the government also aims to finalise and publish its Green Public Procurement action plan this year in the hope that by 2015 half of all public procurement adheres to the EU’s criteria.

Financial assistance will be provided for eco-innovative start-ups, businesses implementing eco-innovative solutions and for companies bringing the innovations to market by 2014. The government will seek to encourage companies to take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact and take a stronger role in environmental management.

Companies on the stock exchange will be encouraged to have a Corporate Social Responsibility policy. Manufacturing firms will be helped to achieve environmental certification from next year. All necessary eco-certification standards will be incorporated into the legal basis for Malta Tourism Authority licensing of new hotels by this year.

A “stepped” approach to environmental taxation will continue to be taken, according to the policy.

“Environmental taxation is designed to put a price on pollution and indiscriminate/excessive use of natural resources, while at the same time stimulating employment creation by reducing the cost of labour. We will ensure such taxation is based on assessment to ensure that it is revenue-neutral and does not penalise vulnerable groups.”

The government also promises a working group to prepare a Green EconomyAction Plan by 2012. There will be a Sustainable Development Act enacted to maintain this practice across the workings of the government.

All government policies, plans, programmes and projects will be reviewed to make sure they are in line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The annual budget will contain a “dedicated and well-resourced environment pillar”, the policy says.

Sectors that need restructuring to reduce their “significant environmental impacts” will be thoroughly assessed by 2013.