ADPD – The Green Party on Saturday expressed its concern about the impact that tourism is having on climate change.
Addressing a press conference in Sliema, chairperson Carmel Cacopardo referred to the impact of tourism and air travel on climate. Currently there is an ongoing debate regarding a tax on aviation fuel. This is one of the essential measures needed to enable the reduction of 55 per cent of greenhouse emissions by 2030. This initiative is aimed to ensure that the price of an air flight includes all costs, include those caused by emissions.
“This can be carried out either by a tax on air travel or else through the use of alternative means of transport, as a result of which the tax can be avoided legally, with the resultant decrease of the environmental impacts. In mainland Europe the use of trains is many a time a good alternative for air travel not just due to its efficiency but also in generating less environmental impacts. In Malta’s case this can also be used in a limited way. This leads to an increase in the cost of air travel and the number of tourists – both incoming as well as Maltese that travel abroad,” he said.
Although there must be concessions for those who live on isolated islands, tourism must carry the weight of its own impacts: this is what social and environmental justice demands! It is in Malta’s interest that the impact of mass tourism is contained before it is too late. The aviation industry must be encouraged through economic means such as taxation to restructure itself. More sustainable means of transport should be supported if we really mean to address climate change. Let us all remember that like all island states, Malta included, as well as coastal communities, will be the first to suffer some of the worsts repercussions of climate change: the increase in sea level. Climate will not consider our special situation or our economic considerations – nature does not discriminate: it will roll over us as it did elsewhere!
Tourism is at a cross road. It needs to adapt to the impact of climate change. This is tourism’s future… and not tax exemptions, concluded Cacopardo.