The government and the Opposition yesterday disputed the extent to which the PN government had implemented sustainable development legislation.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat said the Nationalist administration had left all the proposals on paper but shadow environment minister Marthese Portelli pointed out that the Bill was approved in July 2012 and members of the national commission were appointed in December – three months before to the new government was elected.

Introducing a two-hour discussion on the Sustainable Development Annual Report for 2014, Mr Brincat said the PN had not set up any structures or provided any administrative support.

On the contrary, the present government had made sure permanent secretaries became familiar with sustainable development legislation and their responsibilities under it.

The necessary funds had also been allocated, he said.

The government had reached out to local councils and set up working groups, and the suggestions made by the Guardian for Future Generations had been taken on board. The government had issued a call for a director for sustainable development.

Mr Brincat said among the major challenges were capacity building and effectively implementing the law. It was clear there was not enough awareness about this legislation.

All stakeholders, including trade unions, needed to be involved in the process for the legislation to be effective.

Dr Portelli said she could not understand how the government could speak of sustainable development when the concept of sustainability was clearly being pushed down the drain and the government was adopting an “I don’t care” attitude.

The setting up of the Environment Authority was linked to the Environment Bill under which the Environment Director did not have a permanent seat on the Planning Authority Executive Council.

This meant that the government did not really want to strike a fair balance between development and protection for the environment, she said. The two sectors were not on an equal footing.

She asked where the government’s credentials on the environment were and called on it to postpone the debate on the three proposed Bills in connection with the demerger of Mepa so that proper consultation could take place.

Winding up, Mr Brincat criticised the Opposition for being negative, out to score cheap points with language that did not make for sane debate.

The government would not be sidetracked but would continue to stimulate economic growth for the well-being of society without burdening future generations. Sustainable development was not just a buzzword.

He expressed confidence that following final consultations the government would be in a position to issue the Strategy for the Green Economy.