NEWS | Wednesday, 22 October 2008

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Malta urged to keep up pressure on Europe’s climate change strategy

Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola yesterday said the Maltese government should not give up in its bid to see the European Union’s climate change strategy in place by the end of the year.
AD expressed its disappointment on the postponement of the decision on measures to combat climate change, which was the result of the Luxembourg summit yesterday.
“Unfortunately, the French Presidency has given in on the timing of measures regarding the climate and energy package. It is heartening to see the Maltese government wanting to go ahead with the decisions of the package, but unfortunately, by postponing the decision to the European Council of December, we risk giving in to the veto of Italy, Poland and Germany, whose aim is to dilute legislation on CO2 reduction,” Cassola said.
“The Maltese government should not give in, and demand immediate measures to be agreed upon in December.”
Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino yesterday said the Maltese government had stressed on the need for an agreement over the climate change strategy by the end of the year, in a bid to strengthen each member state’s role in fighting global warming.
The ministry said it had agreed with the general principles of the package, particularly with the EU targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, and beyond.
Pullicino said special attention had to be paid at implementing a full emissions trading scheme by 2013 in the energy production sector in Malta, which is why the government could consider derogating from EU directives if special circumstances apply.
Various member states, particularly Italy and Poland, called for a revision due to the financial impact of the measures. Italy wants to change the EU plan on cutting greenhouse gas emissions due to the costs involved. It claims it has the support of nine other states.
George Pullicino told The Times on Monday that Malta was sticking to its support of the proposed targets and that it was willing to conclude the ongoing negotiations by December.
“We have some technical questions regarding certain aspects of the legislative proposals, like the system of emissions auctioning and carbon capture, where we need further clarifications on their impacts on Malta. But, generally, we agree with the measures proposed by the Commission.”
Malta has however not yet submitted its national climate change strategy report, which Pullicino says should be ready by end-2008.
The Commission wants Malta to source 10% of all its energy from renewable sources by 2020, and increase biofuel use up to 10% of all transport fuel. In 2005, the level of energy derived from renewable energy stood at a measly 0.36%, the lowest in Europe.

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