The government is planning a large number of activities to create awareness on the importance of conserving our environment within today’s industrialised and technology driven scenario.
The activities marking World Environment Week start today when Investments, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt and Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino will be visiting visit two companies (Abertax Group, which produces parts for electric cars, and Metalco Ltd, which recycles tyres) which have created new business opportunities resulting from new national environmental policies.
Later, Minister Pullicino will accompany WasteServ trainees on a household visit to better explain waste management techniques. This will be followed by an analysis session.
Tomorrow, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will attend a tree planting session while Minister Pullicino will take part in a question and answer session from schoolchildren as part of the Dinja Wahda initiative organised by Birdlife Malta.
On Thursday, Mr Pullicino will meet with Government Green Leaders at the end of a series of activities and will be presented with a donation of trees from ST Microelectronics.
On Friday, the minister and Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius will visit an organic farm in Fawwara. Farmers using organic practices and other members of the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM) will also be present for this event.
Other events on Saturday include an underwater clean-up event, an eco-forum It-tibdil tal-klima...teffettwah int being organised as part of the Echo-fest event while a number of personalities and players take part waterpolo matches. The proceeds from this initiative will be directed towards the 34U (Tree for you) campaign.
On Sunday, Minister George Pullicino, will participate in the eco-forum Opportunitajiet ekonomici mill-harsien ta` l-ambjent being held as part of the Echo-fest activity.
On Monday, Minister Pullicino will participate in a climate change awareness event. This event is being organised on World Environment Day in all EU member states and forms part of an Austrian Presidency campaign to raise awareness on climate change issues.
The European Union also launched its campaign throughout its Member States challenging individuals to make small changes to their daily routine in order to achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions is to be launched in the coming weeks. Titled ‘You Control Climate Change’ the campaign aims to give people a sense of personal responsibility and empowerment and help them to contribute to the fight against climate change.
The need for change is highlighted by the fact that every year, every EU citizen is responsible for 11 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, among which almost nine tonnes are emissions of Carbon Dioxide CO2 . These emissions result largely from energy consumption by households and the use of private cars.
In Malta, the campaign will be launched with a special event for children, which will take place at the Valletta Waterfront on Monday. This event will emphasise the four main themes of the campaign which are, ‘Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk.’ Large posters carrying this message and showing the earth together with a rising thermostat are to be unveiled across the EU once the campaign is underway. The first five months of this year, 7,480 trees have been planted in the 34U campaign, while another 500 are to be planted in the near future.