Friends of the Earth Malta are appealing to MPs to give their full support and vote in favour of adopting a Climate Change Bill to be moved in Parliament through a Private Member's Bill today.

The NGO said the initiative is supported by BirdLife Malta, Din L-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), Gaia Foundation, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust Malta and Żminijietna.

Maintaining that climate change is considered to be one of the most pressing concerns Malta and the EU will face within the next five to 10 years, FOE said that, according to recent statistics, the Maltese people are worried about escalating energy prices and the increase in surcharge rates.

Legislation committing the country to a sustainability plan tackling emissions and renewable energy "will have to define strict parameters if Malta is to reach the targets set by EU regulations," it said.

It proposed that through the integration of environmentally-friendly systems of transport and energy, CO2 emissions are reduced through legally-binding commitments obliging the government to cut emissions year on year. These cuts should be equal to at least a 30 per cent reduction of EU-wide domestic emissions by 2020 and 90 per cent by 2050, it added.

FOE emphasised it has been collecting signatures for a petition since February and that over 2,000 letters have been sent to MPs asking them to commit their support to a strong law tackling climate change.