I refer to Furnace cities by Bjørn Lomborg (TMID, 21 November), which states that “it’s possible to see, right now, what global warming will eventually do to the planet. To peek into the future, all we have to do is go to Beijing, Athens, Tokyo or in fact, just any city on Earth”.
Gozitans don’t even have to go that far to notice the negative effects of global warming. Crossing over to Malta, we instantly detect the difference in temperature and air quality between the two islands. On return to Gozo, we, along with our visitors, immediately smell and taste the fresher air, greeting us on disembarkation.
That Gozo feels cooler and less polluted than Malta is attributable to its still being far less densely built-up, with fewer vehicle emissions and more open spaces. Many are struck by the stark contrast between Gozo and the concrete jungle that Malta has become, with its veritable epidemic of “cranes”: all symptomatic of the sacrifice of Outside Development Zones to bizarre construction projects, as if the archipelago were not already afflicted by the plague of 53,000 vacant properties.
Buildings absorb and retain much more heat than open countryside, an effect that Mr Lomborg characterises as an “Urban Heat Island”.So how can Gozitans substantively reduce or minimise this consequence?
I support the Green Party’s proposals for turning Gozo into an ecological island, once elected to parliament, thus creating a bright and modern future for Gozitan workers, while protecting our patrimony and natural heritage.
Gozitans, and all those who vote in Gozo, are fast realising that without an AD MP, Gozo will inevitably suffer the same “Urban Heat Island” fate that has beset Malta.
We have a duty to the welfare of future generations to boldly break the old mould of yesterday’s politics that perpetuate a vicious cycle between land speculators, who fund political parties which in turn protect their financiers.
We owe it to ourselves and our children to safeguard the existent eco-systems that guarantee the future of our unique tourist product.
Michael A. Bajada
Munxar
Gozo