It goes without saying the public health crisis has, and still is, proving to be a challenging period for industries and governments all around the world, as together we strive in doing our utmost to save livelihoods, jobs and businesses.

Notwithstanding the unprecedented complexities being presented through this pandemic, we need to seek out the opportunities which this crisis, and the recovery plan from it, present. We, together with our EU counterparts, find ourselves strategically positioned to make such recovery a sustainable one which focuses on the cornerstones presented in the Commission’s ‘A European Green Deal’ and the Circular Economy Action Plan, making the revival of our economy just and inclusive of all persons and places.

In line with the plans included in the European Green Deal, Malta’s recently launched Economic Vision for 2020-2025 which includes a pillar targeting specifically the attainment of carbon neutrality by 2050. The overarching principle on which Malta’s Economic Vision is built is the attainment of a better quality of life.

Malta has committed to achieving carbon-neutrality by 2050 with intermediate targets along the way. This is challenging for a small island country with no natural resources, limited space, low per-capita emissions and a non-energy intensive economy base. 

We will nonetheless do our part, but we will not stop there. We will take this recovery process as an opportunity to invest in this vision and move towards this direction.

The ambitious target of becoming carbon neutral dovetails perfectly with this principle. Working towards carbon neutrality particularly through incentivizing low emission transport modes and promote more sustainable mobility in will also result in better air quality for all.

Recognising the major negative impact of transport on our emissions levels Malta is already incentivising the uptake of electric vehicles through grants and tax incentives and we will continue to do so, aligning the incentives with our targets. By end of year, we shall be announcing a cut-off date for vehicles with internal combustion engines. This is complemented by massive investment in transport infrastructure to remove traffic congestion, whilst introducing measure to entice modal shifts to less-polluting transport systems.  In the meantime, we are also assessing the feasibility of a mass transit system.

This vision is an ambitious one, however also attainable if the government, private sector, civil society and the nation in general play its role.

Through it, the Government is committed to ensure that the principle of sustainability is at the heart of the economic revival plan it will adopt, whilst focusing its energies on green and blue growth.

Bar the current situation which has crippled economies all over the world, over the past few years, Malta has experienced substantial growth in its economy. This has been a positive experience for the whole country and multiple sectors. However, one cannot overlook the environmental challenges as the increasing population increased carbon and environmental footprint. The realisation of a circular economy would reap numerous economic and environmental benefits, which is a transition which we are working towards achieving.

One such environmental challenge, brought about by Malta’s economic success, has been the increase in the use of resources and construction waste generated. Specifically, on Construction and Demolition waste, a draft strategy has been developed by my Ministry, in collaboration with the Environment and Resources Authority. This draft strategy, which further to a public consultation, is currently being reviewed, focuses on the management of waste originating from construction, demolition, and excavation operations.

It is pertinent to note that this draft strategy toes the line of the overarching EU Circular Economy policy, and identifies options for the management of waste arising from construction, demolition and excavation activities, through both short-term and long-term measures.

It is imperative to point out at this stage that a solution for such a challenge, for a small island state, such as Malta, is no easy task. Given the country’s specificities, such a challenge is exacerbated in the case of small economies, where economies of scale do not exist and where, in certain cases, market failure is deemed to occur.

The Government has been focusing its efforts to have a transition from the traditional and linear economic model towards a more circular one. The upgrading of its waste infrastructure was crucial in this endeavour.

Planned investments in waste management include a waste-to-energy facility for non-recyclable waste as well as a new organic waste processing plant that will generate compost to be used in agriculture thereby enhancing our circular economy efforts along other initiatives such as the Beverage Container Refund System that shall recover for recycling 90% of containers placed on the market.  In the hospitality sector eco-certification schemes are being enhanced to entice more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

Notwithstanding the difficulties of achieving the circular economy, Malta is strongly committed towards continuing to seek opportunities in transitioning towards a greener and circular economy.

These efforts coupled with other green financial incentives that the government is promoting will continue to transition our traditional and lineal economy towards a more circular one. Through a feasibility study concluded last year, it has clearly transpired that the local financial market would need an additional impetus of public funding through greening incentives. In such circumstances, the Government is carefully analysing the ways in which we could achieve the level ambition that is desired.

We will continue to ensure the engagement of all levels and strata of the society in its policy development process. Indeed, I have launched a specific stakeholder consultation series with various organisations of the civil society including the academics, the chamber of commerce, the local council association, After all, the policy implementation is only as successful as much as we decide to shift our consumption patterns. Hence, it is crucial that all involved in a timely manner to own such important strategies linked within climate and environment sustainability.

Strong policy decisions, relating to bold political decisions, are very much what is required in order to have a successful transition which we are aiming for. We are committed to achieving such a success, and our presence here today, as significant enablers in such a transition, gives a strong signal of the commitment that there is in order to achieve what is envisaged for our country.

 

Aaron Farrugia is Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning