The PL has been long arguing that while one should welcome the idea of a revamped or even new environment policy, what Malta needs most is an implementation plan as well as an assurance that such a process will not drag on for some 18 months – almost literally up to the eve of the forthcoming general elections.

Quite surprisingly these views were recently echoed in a daily English newspaper’s editorial which made more or less the same two points that we have been stressing upon for long.

That implementation is the key and that the 18-month period for the finalisation of the plan should be considerably shortened.

Although it should be common knowledge that various public attitude surveys have been carried out by independent consultancy firms on Mepa’s own instructions, in actual fact they are not. So much so that one has to dig deep and hard to be able to trace copies of such studies online.

What I found quite interesting were some of the conclusions drawn by those interviewed.

Which begs the question as to why Mepa did not flaunt and publicise such findings as is normally its custom.

Perhaps the most professional and important survey was carried out last April by Ernst & Young on the basis of the public attitude survey 2008 wherein results were analysed in depth.

Following are some of the summary conclusions:

• More than two thirds of respondents feel that the environment was equally important as the economy.

• The three environmental problems of greatest concern to respondents were classified under three themes: air (70 per cent); waste (54 per cent) and land use issues (27 per cent).

• More than half of respondents believed that air quality in their locality affected their health in a significant way.

• A very high 84 per cent of respondents thought that Malta was too built up with just over half of respondents regarding the environmental impact of construction as negative.

• Most respondents felt that their daily actions could have a positive effect on the environment.

• The top four areas mentioned by respondents to be protected from development were Buskett, Valletta, Mdina and Sliema.

• A very high 85 per cent of respondents agreed with the conservation of old buildings.

• Climate change was perceived as having an impact on the Maltese islands by 84 per cent of the respondents.

• Respondents agreed a lot with having more footpaths and cycling routes in the countryside (89 per cent).

• Only 39 per cent regarded positively their access to information relating to the environment.

• Most respondents disagreed with the statement that environmental laws were adequately enforced.

• A very high 93 per cent of respondents agreed with the polluter-pays principle.

• This percentage is similar to the very high 94 per cent of respondents who agreed with issuing strong permits to regulate activities that are potentially harmful to the environment.

• Another 89 per cent of respondents agreed with the removal of all illegal development.

• More than a third of respondents regarded fines for environmental violations as low.

• Bathing water quality was deemed to be good by 39 per cent of respondents and poor by a low 15 per cent.

• Just over half of respondents agreed that there should be more defined zones for control of activities at sea.

• Activities that damaged the coast most were regarded by respondents to be those relating to liquid and solid waste and beach based recreation.

• Almost all respondents declared they made an effort to waste less. However, most respondents disagreed that collection of household waste should not be on a daily basis.

• More than half of respondents agreed that excavation waste should be used for land reclamation.

• A similar percentage agreed that recycled water from sewage should be used for irrigation.

• Two thirds of respondents were concerned about water scarcity. A similar 63 per cent expressed concern about the illegal abstraction of water.

• A high 79 per cent believed that noise was a problem in the Maltese islands.

• More than a third of respondents stated that they did not have an adequate public transport service compared to 34 per cent who said that they did.

• Pesticides were considered harmful to the environment while the risks of household chemicals were a source of concern to 67 per cent of respondents.

• While 22 per cent of respondents regarded the impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as beneficial to the Maltese environment, another 26 per cent viewed it as harmful.

These findings alone should have warranted a lengthy discussion and possibly even a public seminar.

Climate change displacement

I have been long arguing that a convention on the above subject is long overdue. In replying to a parliamentary question of mine at the end of a recent EU Summit, the PM seemed to think otherwise.

I am pleased to note that in recent weeks the move towards such a convention is gaining momentum internationally.

Climate change displacement refers mainly to population migration caused by the effects of climate change, which include rising sea levels, heavier floods, more frequent and severe storms, drought and desertification.

Such migration can take place within a state or across borders.

It can also be temporary or permanent.

Developed states will definitely be most affected by climate change displacement.

I strongly believe that Malta should take the lead in this sector, if need be even at UN General Assembly level.

I have long made the point locally and overseas that there has been no co-ordinated response by governments to address human displacement, whether domestic or international, temporary or permanent due to climate change.

Given the nature and magnitude of the problem which climate change displacement presents, ad hoc measures based on existing domestic regimes are likely to lead to inconsistency, confusion and conflict.

A summer time Middle East decision: to freeze or unfreeze?

Regardless of whether the Middle East peace talks do happen this week, the fate of the settlement freeze will definitely top the agenda.

There can be no serious and meaningful direct Israeli-Palestinian talks unless the issue of extending or halting the West Bank settlement freeze will be discussed at the very start of such talks.

One has to recall that come 26 September, the 10-month building freeze will actually draw to an end.

I am aware that the issue of settlements as well as that of a moratorium has been a topic of discussion already and will be so when or if the two leaders meet with Secretary of State Clinton.

While one cannot expect the US to turn its back on its natural and strategic allies – Israel – one sincerely hopes that the US will be seriously mindful of the Palestinian call for an end to settlement building.

It was interesting to note that an un-named senior US official involved in contacts with the Israelis stated that their position on settlements is known and has not changed since they believe that building in the settlements is illegitimate.

On the other hand one finds the statement by Foreign Minister Lieberman that settlement building should restart in September somewhat unsettling.

While one hopes that there will not be any counter productive walk outs, one cannot fail to factor in the Palestinian negotiators’ repeated threats to walk out of talks if the freeze is broken.

While both sides will do their best to keep their cards close to their chest, what I found a bit worrying are statements that certain big settlements are areas that Israel hopes to retain even after an eventual peace deal.

I am all for peace talks especially after so many months of inactivity in the area, but my prediction is that the peace process is unlikely to end within the next year as disagreements between the two sides are too deep.

The Americans have been implying to the PA that if direct negotiations would restart it would be easier to convince Israel to extend the construction freeze.

Let us hope that this is not yet another cat and mouse game that will lead nowhere.

Five years on from Katrina

Rather than merely taking stock of the socio-economic and environmental damage that the Katrina hurricane caused in New Orleans, the fifth anniversary of this ‘tragedy’ poses an even more disturbing question – how vulnerable is the United States to more devastating hurricanes like Katrina?

I recently came to learn that in some regions, President G. W. Bush’s lacklustre response to Katrina had a bigger effect on US politics than the Iraq war itself.

One of his chief strategists recently admitted that Katrina was to him the tipping point. The President broke his bond with the public and once that bond was broken, he no longer had the capacity to talk to the American public. It all relegated both State of the Union addresses and legislative initiatives to secondary issues and or matters.

Dan Bartlett, White House Communications Director, was even reported to have been more succinct about its impact on the Bush presidency – politically, it was the final nail in the coffin...

Katrina was not only America’s first environmental hit of the 21st century, but with more than 50 per cent of the population living near the coast, many were of the opinion that it is unlikely to be a one-off.

Although very little is written about this, many experts feel and think that another area at risk is greater New York City, including coastal New York State, New Jersey and Connecticut, an area with a combined population of around 20 million and an economy of around $1 trillion with approximately $2 trillion in built assets.

Even worse, much of Manhattan is only about 10 feet above sea level, with critical regional infrastructure, such as ports or tunnel entrances, even lower lying.

Let us hope that such environmental, economic and political crises will not continue to take their toll on the international community.

[email protected]

www.leobrincat.com

Leo Brincat is the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development & Climate Change.