Fact number one – Until 2020 Malta is obliged to generate 10 per cent of its energy requirements from clean and alternative sources when compared to 1990 levels. Moreover, Malta is also obliged to reduce its greenhouse gases (CO2) emissions by 20 per cent when compared to the same 1990 levels.

When one considers the emissions levels we have today, this translates into an effective reduction of 43 per cent of what we had in 1990.

Fact number two – press release number 913 issued by the Department of Information, on behalf of the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry, dated 25 June, 2008 announces a “First meeting of the committee which is responsible for the drafting of a plan on how Malta can reduce greenhouse gases emissions”.

The press release goes on to state that after the committee presents its draft strategy, the government will initiate a wide public consultation process in order to gauge the public’s response.

Eventually, the government also repeatedly declared that it is not ruling out anything at this stage and it wants to ensure that the country has a strategy which can be implemented and which provides concrete solutions to our realities.

Fact number three – a Malta Labour Party statement signed by Leo Brincat, dated 18 August, 2008 states that ‘Il-Partit Laburista qed jipproponi li jitwaqqaf Kumitat ta’ Esperti sabiex jitfassal u jitwettaq pjan ta’ hidma li ghandu jwassal ghal abbozz ta’ ligi dwar it-Tibdil fil-Klima.’ (The MLP is proposing the setting up of a committee of experts for the setting up and implementation of a plan which should lead to the drafting of a Climate Change bill).

In my opinion, these facts are the key to understand the logic which Leo Brincat is using in his now frequent articles (such as the one published in The Malta Independent on 16 September), press releases and statements.

Typical of Labour’s opportunism, Mr Brincat was quick to jump on the climate change bandwagon but he was two months late.

This follows that Mr Brincat had to save face and so he embarked on a media offensive.

Admittedly, his is not an easy task since he has to convince his audience that he has somewhat changed his position from advocating the setting up of a climate change experts’ committee to criticising its setting up by the government!

Quite remarkable, isn’t it, but I’ve learned to expect anything from Labour!

An in-depth look at all articles and press releases penned by Mr Brincat unveils his tactic. Mr Brincat’s, and the Labour Party’s main aim is to maintain a passive and non-committal stance and not giving their input to the drafting of the strategy, because they are aware that any false move could dent their popularity among certain sections of the population.

The Brincat-MLP proposal, which effectively means the setting up of checks and balances on the monitoring of the strategy implementation, is premature. In order for Labour’s proposal to be effective, Labour must first stop jumping the gun and set the record straight by stating, unequivocally, which are the concrete measures that should be considered for the strategy itself.

Allow me to reiterate that the government, at this stage, is ruling out nothing in order to ensure that the strategy can be implemented in the most efficient and effective way for our people, for our country and for our future generations. This includes due consideration of proposals which should guarantee that the eventual strategy is being implemented according to plan. However, for the time being, the government wants to hear proposals on the measures that should be included in this strategy.

This also applies to the Labour Party. This is a golden opportunity for Labour to shed its opportunistic mantle, though I must admit that developments tend to show the exact opposite. For the sake of my country, I am ready to renew my appeal for Labour to give its input into the formulation of the strategy. The government never intended this to become a contentious issue. We can disagree on a million things, but let’s agree on the future well-being of our people, our country and our future generations.

George Pullicino is Resources and Rural Affairs Minister