The government is to appoint a team to draw up a plan within two months for a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions over the next five years, Resources Minister George Pullicino said this afternoon.

He said the purpose of the plan was for Malta to achieve its part of the EU targets on greenhouse gas. He said the plan would tackle all areas which produced harmful emissions.

Mr Pullicino was speaking at a press conference held by the Health Department to mark World Health Day, celebrated today.

In March 2007, all EU member states endorsed a plan so that, by 2020, the EU will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels, reach a 20 per cent share of renewable in overall EU energy consumption and have a 10 per cent biofuel component in vehicle fuel.