Filwaqt li kważi l-Ewropa kollha tinsab f’tellieqa biex tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet, Malta rreġistrat l-ogħla żieda, 9%, u kompliet iżżid l-emissjonijiet mill-2014 ‘l hawn.
Il-Gvern Malti m’għandux viżjoni għal ekonomija carbon-neutral, u bil-Pjan Nazzjonali tal-Enerġija u l-Klima li jistabbilixxi l-mira li sal-2030 innaqqsu l-emissjonijiet b’1.5% biss – ċifra tal-mistħija – mhux ta’ b’xejn li kontinwament niġu kkritikati mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea għal nuqqas ta’ ambizzjoni.
L-azzjoni klimatika ma teżistix fi stat iżolat, u dan huwa sintomu ieħor ta’ popolazzjoni eċċessiva bla preċedent li qatt ma kellna pjan fit-tul għaliha.
Fit-toroq tagħna jiżdiedu madwar 58 karozza kuljum u 3% biss minnhom huma vetturi elettriċi jew hybrid. Huwa għalhekk ta’ tħassib kbir li s-sussidji għall-vetturi elettriċi mhumiex iggarantiti għall-2025, u dan biex ma nsemmux il-bżonn ta’ sussidji għal vetturi alternattivi.
Għandna bżonn pjanijiet konkreti u reali biex nissalvagwardjaw il-futur, is-saħħa, u l-ambjent tagħna, biex insostnu t-triq ’il quddiem u nippreservaw l-ekonomija tagħna b’investimenti reali fit-tul, bħal sistema tal-Metro li dejjem tiġi mwiegħda bħala proposta ewlenija f’kull kampanja elettorali biex imbagħad tiġi skartata għalkollox mill-Gvern, baġit wara l-ieħor.
It-Tibdil fil-Klima jinħtieġ azzjoni kuraġġuża li tqiegħed lill-bniedem u l-ġid komuni fiċ-ċentru tal-politika, u tiżgura tranżizzjoni ġusta li ma ssirx taxxa ġdida fuq dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli.
L-ekonomija ħadra hija l-futur tat-tkabbir ekonomiku. Investiment reali minflok stqarrijiet fl-arja jiżgura impjiegi ta’ kwalità u opportunitajiet li jroddu lura bil-kbir, u għalhekk pajjiżi oħra qed jinvestu b’mod qawwi f’dan is-settur filwaqt li l-Gvern Laburista jinsisti li jidfen rasu fir-ramel.
Minflok, Malta u l-Maltin qed jitħallew b’buzzwords u arja mniġġsa bl-implikazzjonijiet diżastrużi kollha tagħha.
It-tibdil fil-klima m’għandux ikun suġġett ta’ pessimiżmu, u kieku kellna gvern kompetenti seta’ jkun il-bażi ta’ politika ambjentali u ekonomika biex tibda era ġdida ta’ suċċess sostenibbli u fit-tul.
Eve Borg Bonello
Shadow Minister għat-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Indafa Pubblika
The Government is clueless and failing miserably on Climate Change
Whilst practically all of Europe is in a race to reduce emissions, Malta has registered the highest increase, 9%, continuing to increase our share of emissions since 2014.
Our government has no vision for a carbon-neutral economy, and with the National Energy and Climate Plan setting our 2030 goal to reduce emissions by an embarrassing 1.5%, it’s no surprise that we’re routinely put on blast by the European Commission for a lack of ambition.
Climate action does not exist in a bubble, this is yet another symptom of unprecedented overpopulation met with no long-term planning.
With roughly 58 new cars added to our roads daily, and only 3% of vehicles being electric or hybrid, it is immensely worrying that subsidies for electric vehicles are not guaranteed for 2025, not to mention the need for subsidies for alternative vehicles.
We need real, concrete policies to safeguard our future, health and environment, to subsidise the way forward and future-proof our economy with real long-term investments such as a Metro system that has been pushed as a flagship proposal ad nauseam every election cycle only to be completely abandoned by the government, budget after budget.
Climate change requires bold action that places human well-being at the centre of policy, ensuring a just transition that does not become a new tax on the most vulnerable.
The green economy is the future of economic growth. Real investment instead of flimsy statements would ensure high-paying jobs and opportunities with massive returns, which is why other countries are investing heavily in this sector whilst the Labour Government insists on burying its head in the sand.
Malta and the Maltese are left with vague buzzwords and polluted air with all its disastrous implications.
Climate change does not have to be a doom and gloom debate, if we had a competent government it could be the basis of environmental and economic policy to usher us into a new era of long-term, sustainable success.
Eve Borg Bonello
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Public Cleanliness
18.09.2024