The burning of fossil fuels, agricultural and land use changes like deforestation and wetland drainage are the main human activities that contribute to climate change.
These activities cause the increase in emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases and hence climate change. Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced significantly if climate change is to be halted, or at least be maintained at a rate that would allow society, the world's economy and natural ecosystems to adapt to the changes that will take place.
The European Union has played a key role in the development of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997. The EU, as a party to the Kyoto Protocol, has a reduction target of eight per cent of 1990 emissions to be achieved by the period 2008-2012.
It is an EU's commitment to limit any global warming to a maximum of 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Beyond this limit, it is probable that climate change would not be reversible. Locally, GHG emissions have increased by 44 per cent between 1990 and 2003. The main contributors are the two power generation plants and the transport sector having a share of 63 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
The remaining 17 per cent are accounted for by waste, agriculture, industrial processes and fossil fuel use in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors.
The European Commission expects that Malta undertakes emission control commitments and requires the reduction of about 27 per cent CO2 emissions from the two power plants over that proposed in the National Allocation Plan for Malta for the period 2008-2012. The European Commission expects other reductions from the introduction of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
Mepa has published a proposed Planning Guidance for Micro-Wind Turbines. This draft document, which is currently up for public consultation, can be viewed on website: www.mepa.org.mt and any comments or suggestions can be sent through e-mail address: microwind @mepa.org.mt by September 11.