11th May 2005

Government should take steps to combat climate change

Friends of the Earth has noted Opposition leader Alfred Sant’s call for NGOs to prepare a report that would indicate how Malta could respect the targets in the Kyoto protocol.

Friends of the Earth (Malta) would be willing to take up the challenge given the financial resources. But many environmental problems in the Maltese islands are self-evident and solving them would be beneficial not merely from an environmental point of view but also would benefit our economy and improve our quality of life.

The government need not wait for reports to take action on climate change. It has dragged its feet far too long.
Friends of the Earth Malta suggests that :

1) incentives are given for those that want to install solar water heaters;
2) an arrangement is made so that whoever installs photo-voltaic panels is able to sell the excess energy created back to the government at a price that encourages the use of such solar panels;
3) the public transport system is reformed drastically so that public transport becomes a clean and reliable alternative to the private vehicle;
4) government incentives all those willing to produce bio-gas and bio-diesel and allows the sale of liquid petroleum gas as a motor vehicle fuel;
5) the rate for VAT on all light bulbs be substantially higher than that for energy saving bulbs;
6) both our power stations are made more energy efficient and use gas rather than oil;
7) all electric motor vehicles are not subject to any government generated charges for those that import and purchase the vehicles;
8) energy audits be encouraged in all government buildings with targets and timeframes for a reduction of energy consumption.