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Communications |
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SPEECH BY THE HON. GEORGE PULLICINO, MINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND RURAL AFFAIRS, DURING A SEMINAR ON ‘CLIMATE CHANGE AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ |
Date:
11/07/2008
Whilst addressing a seminar entitled ‘Climate Change and Regional Economic Development’ organized by AZAD the Hon. George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, said that almost twenty years ago, a PN-led government had proposed to the United Nations General Assembly that climate change be declared a ‘common concern’ of humanity. Hon. Pullicino emphasised the point that politicians in Malta, in Europe and at G8 summits, need to offer more effective and substantive environmental action.
Minister Pullicino spoke about the challenges of climate change. The scale of the challenge is large, particularly where strategies of adaptation are concerned, at least in the short term. However, Minister Pullicino was pleased to report that progress has been made with respect to strategies of mitigation. In this regard Minister Pullicino recalled that Malta, as a Member of the EU, is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, as well as increasing its use of renewable energy sources in tandem with the other EU Member States. It is for this reason that, soon after assuming his position as Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs, Hon. Pullicino announced that an Expert Group tasked with formulating a strategy for the reduction of GHG (Green House Gases) emissions would be set up. This group of experts was set up together with the input of French and German advisors and began meeting two weeks ago, and in the coming months will be providing their recommendations on how the targets in reductions should be brought about. These recommendations will take into account the National Allocation Plan for the period between 2008 and 2012 as well as the results of the ongoing discussion at EU level on the Climate Change and Energy package.
Work is also being undertaken to develop a technical framework for the development of a national strategy for climate change to provide strategic direction for mitigation and adaptation. The strategy aims to mainstream climate change policy in all national policies, programs and measures with a view of producing measurable emission limitation to satisfy current and future international obligations, as well as developing a series of adaptation measures to reduce Malta’s vulnerability to climate change. It is intended that the strategy be financed under EU Cohesion Policy funding for Malta for the 2007-2013 period.
Minister Pullicino also stressed on the importance of the key role of technology and the solutions it can offer. “Malta has, over the past years optimized its reverse osmosis installations to such an extent that this sector now accounts for only 7% of Malta’s energy consumption as opposed to over 20% only a few years ago” Minister Pullicino said. In a similar manner, Government also notes the increased use of bio-fuels, a significant proportion of which are produced from waste oil collected in Malta. Indeed, the challenge of improving the use of waste for the production of energy is one which has generated substantial interest from the private sector, with a number of technologies showing considerable potential.
Minister Pullicino also said that he believes that for the initiatives to have a cumulative effect, we need to see them take place within a framework. First, the sea should be taken to be an integral part of the Maltese environment. This means that the sea should be given an importance that is proportionate to its size, and proportionate to its actual and potential importance for our social and economic life. Second, the approach to maritime and marine affairs needs to be holistic. The interface between sea, land and air should be taken into account.
Third, an integrated approach to maritime affairs would prove that Vision 2015 need not conflict with the implementation of satisfactory responses to climate change. Here Hon Pullicino reminded that Malta is already on the way. “It is not generally known, for example, that Maltese exports of algae-based products have already superseded the exports of Maltese potatoes. The potential of the sea to yield important new resources and the market for maritime-related technologies and services should not be underestimated” Minister Pullicino said. Fourth, such an integrated approach would open up roles for existing industries, enterprises taking advantage of the new economy and NGOs. Fifth, a stakeholders’ forum should be created to tackle these issues with an integrated approach.
It is within this framework, that Malta’s international initiatives and climate change diplomacy should be seen and evaluated. It is within this framework in which Minister Pullicino sees the work of his ministry and the government in relation to climate change and regional economic development.
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