We are unfortunately too often witnessing economic considerations run counter to good environmental practice. It is time to identify government priorities that could help accelerate the evolution to a green, net-zero future. Tackling the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change requires a huge transformation across all sectors.
Our government has demonstrated that it has every intention to lead, but progress is being held back by economic, political and regulatory obstacles, plus a lack of national and business leadership. Meeting ambitious sustainability targets requires a bold, whole-of-society approach sustained by long-term government commitment.
In line with the European Union's environmental targets, Malta has set itself a target to achieve a 19% reduction in GHG emissions and increase the share of renewable energies in the energy mix to 11.5% by 2030. For the 2021-2030 period, the Effort-sharing Regulation (ESR) commits Malta to a 19% reduction in GHG emissions compared with 2005. However, according to the European Commission, Malta's domestic emissions are projected to increase by around 41% by 2030.
Malta also adopted its National Renewable Energy Action Plan, which has also been submitted to the Commission. Malta's renewable energy options are currently focused on onshore and offshore wind energy, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy, as well as energy from waste.
Malta's natural environment has long faced various challenges, from widespread construction and natural resource exploitation to littering, environmental degradation, and unsustainable waste management. Up until now, we only have on paper a plethora of beautiful phrases that make up Malta's Sustainable Development Vision for 2050.
The scale of action required cannot be underestimated. It requires a fundamental transformation of all sectors, including energy, manufacturing, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, and land use. We humans must also radically rethink how we produce and consume food and fuel and manage waste. Market forces alone will not solve the problem, and the onus is on the government to take the lead. True, it has set targets, some enshrined in law, to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by specified dates, but that is just the starting point.
Even the EU is setting the pace with a new set of policies to achieve its sustainability goals: the EU Green Deal and Climate Law set binding targets to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 (from 1990 levels) and to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Our government can continue choosing from a wide range of policy interventions and financing measures to support the transformation of energy and industrial systems, improve energy efficiency, tackle environmental pollution, and protect and replenish natural capital. It must relentlessly continue to adopt a stick and carrot approach, including green taxes on harmful environmental activities, tighter regulations, and new environmental standards and certification for energy performance, emissions and pollutants, including tax rebates for meeting these standards.
It is not enough to have loans and grants for green investments in sustainable agriculture, renewable or low-carbon energy sources, energy-efficient buildings, public walkways and cycleways, and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. While subsidies and tax rebates have been praiseworthy additional tools to boost demand for green products and services like EVs, solar panels and renewable energy, the government should consider offering more and greater subsidies and grant funding to research institutes, academic institutions and private R&D firms to boost innovation and develop transformative technologies such as renewable energy, carbon capture, waste management and energy efficiency.
Despite all those positive initiatives, green stimulus measures still fall well short of what is needed. Business has the influence and levers of change to help create actionable outcomes and impact. High-performing companies are increasingly recognising that paying attention to the longer term, to stakeholder perceptions, and to the social and environmental consequences of their products is good for business as well as the country.
Despite much political rhetoric pledging change, our government is often swayed by public opinion, populist media and short-term political cycles, which can derail policies to address complex, longer-term challenges. Without defined budgets, policies, regulations or detailed sector plans and targets to underpin pledges, it is hard to evaluate progress.
The delivery of a green action plan goes far beyond the remit of the energy or environment ministries. It should become an intrinsic part of policy across all the government's activities, from infrastructure, housing, transport and education to health and social services. It is likely that other policies or priorities may conflict with climate goals, so a clear vision and a holistic plan are essential to aligning all departments' efforts to achieve shared goals.
A single entity, either new or existing, should have oversight over delivery to help ensure a coordinated, whole-of-government approach across diverse sectors. This team can manage cross-departmental initiatives, identify synergies and dependencies, anticipate potential issues and take corrective action if necessary. Not only that, but local councils, too, can play a vital role in implementation, so they should be engaged in policy design from the outset and given the necessary powers and resources to deliver green initiatives.
Our government must carefully consider the design and implementation of green initiatives to avoid the risk of failure. Like all major government projects, they require a clear vision, realistic timeframes, appropriate funding and a supportive regulatory environment. But success also depends on having the right resources to deliver in terms of workforce skills and supply chain capacity, as well as consulting with industry and other key stakeholders to identify other critical dependencies and barriers to change.
Dr Mark Said is a lawyer