Don’t miss out! Ministry for the Environment to host National Climate Change Conference next Tuesday

Next week, the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning is holding a conference aimed at providing a platform for discussions and to further explore ways on how Malta, as a country, can tackle the climate crisis.

Indeed, the current changes in the planet’s climate are transforming the world. The last two decades have seen extreme weather events, such as forest fires, heatwaves and floods.  These are becoming more frequent, both in Europe and around the world.

Climate action calls upon all economic sectors to contribute towards emission reduction to ensure that a low carbon culture permeates throughout.

Recently, the EU has adopted the climate law which will shape a climate-neutral continent towards 2050 with a -55 per cent interim reduction target for 2030 as proposed in the Fit for 55 Package. To this end, it is crucial that action is taken in the most cost-effective manner, in a way that stimulates green jobs, competitiveness and increases value added in the long term.  

Through the European Green Deal, the EU has clearly signalled its commitment towards mainstreaming environment and climate action in all its major policy initiatives. In doing so, it is instilling a generation of a greener economy in the EU and its Member States. Malta too has pledged its commitment in reaching this target, and a change in mindset is required for the country to do things in a more sustainable way.  This change calls for a paradigm shift towards policymaking, which centres around intelligent development principles.  Furthermore, it calls for further public awareness and education to facilitate this transaction.

In response to the climate change crisis, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Planning (MECP) has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign: #ClimateOn – Turn On The Power For Change – to promote climate action. The campaign aims to change the general public’s habits towards a more innovative way of life. It also aims to  help spur idea generation for solutions to Malta’s most pressing climate issues, while highlighting the benefits of a low-carbon society.

Central to the campaign are the very concepts within the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was launched for public consultation earlier this year. The Strategy fosters cost-effective pathways to decarbonise the economy by 2050.  It is representative of an opportunity to integrate the EU’s climate ambition and resilience with new transitional investment opportunities. Its’ governance framework pays particular attention to the active participation of stakeholders at all levels of society, as well as the promotion of climate-related education. Capacity building is also identified as a key component, as it fosters the expertise, research and innovation needed in the field of low-carbon development.

For those interested to learn more about how they can help in mitigating and adapting to this climate phenomenon, they are invited to click here for further information