Last Saturday, Alternattiva Demokratika took part in a Common Action of the European Green Party, which coincided with the UN climate negotiations taking place in Poznan, Poland from 1 to 12 December. Other environmental NGOs, like Friends of the Earth, also had their own activities to coincide with this occasion.
What did we from Alternattiva Demokratika do? Following a press conference in Valletta, attended also by Green Member of the European Parliament Michael Cramer, we presented our Environment Minister George Pullicino with a stopwatch which will count down the days and hours until the UN climate negotiations conclude on 11 December 2009.
The European Greens have organised this joint action in different European countries in order to urge governments to take the necessary measures to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change before it is too late. The clock is indeed ticking and climate scientists have shown that a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (based on 1990 levels) has to be the minimum target if the EU is serious about combating climate change.
Specifically, EU member states and their Environment Ministers must ensure that the climate package of legislation currently being decided on will deliver the necessary emissions reductions within the EU. Therefore, this means limiting the possibilities to pay to offset reductions outside of Europe and ensuring that the legislation makes polluters pay the true cost of CO2 emissions.
The EU must also play a leading role in forging an international climate deal in Copenhagen in December 2009. This agreement must reflect the most up-to-date science and not short-term political or economic interests.
Unfortunately, one gets the impression that the Maltese government is only interested in some short-term carefully crafted action to paint itself green... but only superficially. For years on end, green environmental proposals have been rubbished by the Maltese government and portrayed as far-flung ideas with no connection to reality. A very facile pooh-poohing which has left Malta going to the dogs. Suffice it to say that while Prime Minister Gonzi was (and still is) continuously declaring solemnly that for him an ODZ is what it really means – an Outside Development Zone – since 2006 Mepa has totally ignored our Prime Minister and has approved thousands of projects outside development zones
Just picture the high-rise buildings of enormous proportions mushrooming around our island, some of which veritable aesthetic monstrosities. Tigne Point, Hilton Tower, Fort Cambridge Qui Si Sana, Pender Place, Testaferrata Street Msida, Mistra Heights Xemxija and, the jewel in this veritable crown of building mediocrity, the triple Addolorata (very worthy of this name!) Towers facing the cemetery in Marsa.
Mepa has already approved 10 of such highrise projects and another 28 such projects are awaiting approval: all this without Mepa having ever finalised a global policy on highrise buildings in Malta.
Suddenly, after having allowed all this to happen, after having done nothing on solar energy, nothing on wind energy, nothing on renewables, thus making us the laggard of the EU as regards renewable energies, the Gonzi government (and also some budding politicians!) is portraying itself as God’s green gift to Malta and humanity!
I would be the first to applaud a genuine conversion to renewables and to green policies by the government. But the conversion has to be a real and felt one, and not a publicity stunt. It is great when Minister Pullicino finally asks for registration of boreholes with their precious water. But then, how can we, at the same time, throw away the precious second class water produced by sewage treatment plants into the sea?
It is wonderful to see our sewage being treated. But then how is it possible to continue having raw sewage discharged at Wied il-Mielah, Gozo at the same time? It is enthralling to listen to the concept of Eco-Gozo and Product Malta to attract quality tourism. But then, how can you ever think of allowing applications for development in Ta’ Cenc, Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla l-Hamra and a cement monstrosity in Dwejra at the same time?
Shall I continue? No. The list of green camouflage is too long.
The Maltese government and the PN should realise that using the word “green” in their propaganda material is not what makes a party or government truly green. Being truly green means proposing sustainable projects, whilst taking serious and binding commitments towards addressing the global environmental crisis. It takes more than publicity stunts and gimmicky campaigning involving electric cars and approximate carbon footprint calculations to get real about the state of the environment, especially while the government engages in its now trademark pussyfooting around such issues.
AD’s priority is peoples’ quality of life in the widest sense of the word. That is why we worked so hard to join the EU: to raise people’s quality of life. We look forward to the day when the Maltese government becomes authentically green.
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