Friends of the Earth Malta is glad to note that the labour spokesperson for the environment, Mr. Leo Brincat is taking  political action on climate change, in particular the proposal to pass a Private Members’ Bill at Parliament level. We believe that this is the way forward to make sure that the current, and subsequent, governments are committed to act on the pressing issue of climate change.

Friends of the Earth has been campaigning on the issue of climate change for the past few years and also have been working on an educational campaign with the aim to reduce emissions, by improving energy efficiency and by using sustainable renewable energy sources.

On a political front, we are participating in the European wide Big Ask campaign with the aim to lobby the government to adopt a Climate Change Bill in Parliament by the end of 2010.  Friends of the Earth Malta has been collecting petitions since February 2008 and this campaign has been very successful and popular with the public. However little action has been taken in Malta to foster renewable energy and thus contribute to the fight against climate change. Although proper research and debate are required, organising conferences and writing voluminous reports are not enough to combat climate change. The country needs to move forward; there is a need for immediate reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions and this can only be achieved by increased investment in renewable energy. We believe that this will also assure energy security to the Maltese population.

The petition that is being circulated by Friends of the Earth Malta states that the European Commission has requested that by 2020, 10% of our energy requirements will be derived from renewable sources. We have also been granted a 5% increase in carbon dioxide emissions above 2005 levels. Friends of the Earth Malta welcomes this agreement. However Friends of the Earth Malta believes that we can better this target.

Friends of the Earth Malta is lobbying for the enactment of a National Climate Change Legislation that enforces a net decrease of 10% below 1990 levels. This would promote:

•    national legal enforceable targets;
•    encouragement towards investment in Research and Development for innovation in the renewable energy sector;
•    inspiration for new business markets;
•    promotion of a low-carbon economy.

We are voicing our concern regarding the threats to our environment and to the welfare of future generations posed by unmitigated climate change. For this reason Friends of the Earth Malta is advocating the enactment of a National Climate Change Legislation to ensure a net decrease of 10% in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels.

We trust that the concerns illustrated here by Friends of the Earth Malta are taken into consideration within a national climate change legislation.

The petition can be signed online at www.foemalta.org/bigask