The facts are clear: temperatures and sea levels are on the rise; heat waves and droughts are becoming more intense; coastlines are shrinking; and experts continually warn us of new threats to our health.
Climate change is happening here and now. The warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level.
Being a small island situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is in a vulnerable position. Rising sea levels, coastal flooding and the impact on coastal tourism are challenges we will have to face in the years to come.
The time for sitting on the fence is clearly over. Climate change represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats for our generation and global action has to be quick, strong and well focused.
As Members of the European Union we have our part to play, our contribution to give and our targets to reach. This is in line with the high priority being attached to the fight against climate change by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The EU is committed to working constructively for an international agreement to control climate change. It is also leading the way by taking ambitious action of its own. The EU has agreed that global greenhouse emissions - in particular carbon dioxide - must be reduced significantly.
The EU has always been at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change and has played a key role in the development of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997. The targets of the Kyoto Protocol, however, expire in three years time and international negotiations are now taking place with the aim of reaching a global agreement governing action after 2012.
Measures adopted by the EU include the European Climate Change Programme, launched nine years ago. This led to the adoption of a wide range of new policies and measures that include the pioneering EU Emissions Trading System, which has become the cornerstone of EU efforts to reduce emissions cost-effectively, as well as legislation to tackle emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases.
In January 2007, as part of an integrated climate change and energy policy, the European Commission set out proposals and options for an ambitious global agreement in its Communication “Limiting Global Climate Change to two degrees Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond”. Malta endorsed this vision in March 2007, a vision that commits the EU to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent of 1990 levels by 2020 provided other developed countries commit to making comparable reductions under a global agreement.
Moreover, in order to start transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low-carbon economy, all members of the EU have committed themselves to cutting emissions by at least 20 per cent independently of what other countries decide to do.
To underpin these commitments, EU leaders set three key targets to be met by 2020: a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption compared with projected trends; an increase to 20 per cent in renewable energies share of total energy consumption; and an increase to 10 per cent in the share of petrol and diesel consumption from sustainably-produced bio-fuels.
In Malta we have taken a number of initiatives to help us adapt to the impact of climate change. These include the ‘Energy Proposal for Malta’, the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, the revised Solid Waste Management Strategy and the draft national strategy for policy and abatement measures to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Within MEUSAC’s Core Group we have discussed in detail the European Commission’s policy paper on how Europe can improve its resilience to climate change. The paper establishes a framework for action, focusing on building a stronger knowledge base on the risks and impacts of climate change and taking account of climate change impact in key EU policies, in particular with regards to agriculture, fisheries, water resources, biodiversity protection, transport and energy. The framework for action combines different policy measures and supports wider international efforts on adaptation while working in partnership with national, regional and local authorities.
Discussion among Core Group members focused on the need for more coordination for immediate actions, in particular with regard to the better usage of water and the re-use of treated water. Higher sea water levels and the threat on tourism, the negative impact of weather on the agriculture sector, higher temperatures threatening the biodiversity of marine ecosystems and the monitoring of air quality and emissions were also on the agenda.
Other topics discussed by the MEUSAC Core Group were Malta’s Air Quality Plan and cleaner air for Europe, and the Waste Framework Directive
On its part, government is striving to keep the environment clean, incentivising the use of vehicles that pollute less, taking the lead in waste management and is working to increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources. Ultimately, government wants to be a genuine partner to a private sector that invests in clean energy technologies.
The response we are getting is very positive. It is clear that people are more aware of the severity of the challenge and they are willing to take action. The private sector, local councils and residents around Malta and Gozo are not only strongly participating in government’s initiatives but also embarking on their own ambitious projects. The message is being driven home. Delay is no longer an option and it is in our best interest to join all forces and combat climate change.