The ministry for rural affairs and the environment has reacted to a statement on climate change by the Labour Opposition, saying a committee of experts to draw up a plan on how Malta can reduced greenhouse gas emissions, is already in place.
“This committee of experts has a wide representation of various fields from the ministry of environment, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Malta Resources Authority, the transport authority, the University of Malta, Enemalta, the private sector, environment NGOs, and experts in environmental law,” minister George Pullicino said.
The minister said that when the committee’s report is finished, public opinion will be sought for a wide discussion on the implementation of the plan.
Labour is proposing that a committee of experts be set up to draft a Bill on climate change and an annual parliamentary report on the subject.
Leo Brincat, Labour’s spokesman for the environment, has stated the government’s panel of experts is “purely advisory” and was not engaging stakeholders.
Labour says it wants to involve stakeholders from the very beginning.
The committee Labour has proposed would be jointly established by the government and the opposition, and serve as a think-tank on climate change.