Painting presented by Minister George Pullicino, Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon on the 11 December 2008 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland.

In December 2008, the United Nations celebrated the 20th Anniversary of UN Resolution 43/53 on the “protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind.”  It was this resolution, which emerged as a result of Malta’s initiative, that led to the setting up of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and contributed to the growing awareness and momentum that has been achieved in bringing about concerted international action.

The protection of the environment and the conservation of the climate as the common concern of mankind and for the benefit of future generations continues to be a fundamental pillar on which the Government’s vision for the sustainable development of Malta rests.  The present government was elected on the commitment that Malta would continue to give priority to the challenges posed by Climate Change, and would continue to play its part in global efforts to counter this challenge.

The EU, is committed to playing its part in an effort to combat climate change. the EU, is therefore committed to, by 2020 reducing its greenhouse emissions by 20% by 2020, to generate 20% share from renewable energy and to improve energy efficiency by 20%.

As a member state of the European Union Malta has an important role to play in helping the Union achieve its targets. It is with these challenges in mind that I announced that the climate change committee would be set up.  This committee, which begun to function in June 2008, is made up of a group of experts that were tasked with drawing up a draft strategy on limiting emissions of greenhouse gases so that Malta would reach the EU and international targets that it is committed to.

The committee has produced an extensive report that examines the challenges posed by Climate Change holistically, and presents a series of recommendations in order to achieve the necessary reductions in emissions that will not only enable us to achieve our reductions, but in so doing improving our environment and way of life.  It is a pleasure to launch this report for public consultation.  I look forward to engaging in discussion with you over the coming weeks so that together we may carry forward and implement a strategy from which we will all benefit.

I am a firm believer that climate change should not be seen as a challenge, but as an opportunity to make the necessary changes that will guarantee a better state of the world for our children and future generations.  This is what a serious government does. We listen, discuss and act in order to safeguard our climate, our future.

George Pullicino
Minister for Resources & Rural Affairs