Human race is facing a main scientific challenge in the 21st century. Everyone in the world, including politicians, needs to tussle and give our utmost to control global warming that results from increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

One of the two committees that I am part of in the European Parliament is linked specifically to environment and also climate change, and coincidentally these topics are my top favourites in my Parliamentary work in Brussels. These two topics are of a huge importance, particularly the issue of climate change, which is now being given prominence everywhere as we are being more aware of the shocking consequences it may have on our environment in the near future.

As the only Maltese Member in the European Parliament in the temporary committee for climate change, I feel the need and a sense of duty to persist on a national campaign to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 and increase the share of green energy in the energy mix by the same date. Last March, few days after the general election, EU leaders had agreed to enact laws by March of next year to meet this significant goal.

Last Thursday, a study issued by scientists based in Germany and the United States sustained the damage being done by global warming to our environment. According to this study, global warming could gradually starve parts of the tropical oceans of oxygen, damaging fisheries and coastal economies. What is happening in many cases is that oxygen in the air mixes less readily with warmer water and for example large fish such as tuna or swordfish avoid, or are unable to survive, in regions starved of oxygen. All this is creating more harm to nature and we need to strive harder to stop this negative effect.

A lot has been done, but yet much more has to be done in order to continue and fight a vital battle to save our surroundings in the future. Without a strong lead from Europe and its citizens we surely cannot succeed to tackle this environmental issue. We have to be one and we should never stop promoting the importance of renewable energy and carbon capture.

As well said by Prince Charles last February in the European Parliament, this is a task that calls for the biggest public, private and NGO partnership ever seen. This is why we need to be united together, no matter what our political beliefs can be. This is a fight for nature and environment.

One should note that the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is very likely to have been caused by human activities and therefore with one’s commitment we can save our planet from a disaster in the future.

There are many things one can do to stop this dramatic and serious problem. We shouldn’t wait for governments to find more solutions to reduce global warming but we can contribute as well with everyday things before it is too late.

For example when we make a new purchase of appliances for our home we can choose energy efficient appliances. Do not leave appliances on standby. When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions.

Cover your pots while cooking as they may save around 70 per cent of the energy needed for preparing the dish. These are just few examples of a never-ending list, which we may adopt in our lives as we start to be more responsible for this global issue. Obviously there are more examples, which we can implement, but I have a limited space in my weekly opinion corner on this newspaper.

Let’s get all united for this campaign, let’s save our planet and let’s fight global warming!

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP

[email protected]

www.davidcasa.eu