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SPEECH BY THE HON GEORGE PULLICINO MINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND RURAL AFFAIRS AT THE SEMINAR ON ‘MANAGING CLIMATE CHANGE GLOBAL, EU AND MALTESE PERSPECTIVES’ – FLORIANA – WEDNESDAY, 9TH SEPTEMBER 2009. |
Date:
09/09/2009
Allow me to commence my intervention by thanking MEUSAC and the Swedish Presidency for putting together a seminar which focuses on what I’m sure you all agree is one of the ‘hot issues’ currently on the international agenda. Awareness of the issue of climate change has risen steadily since Malta placed the subject on the United Nations agenda over 20 years ago and discussions have reached an unprecedented momentum in the last few months.
In less than 4 months time, representatives from countries from around the globe will gather in Copenhagen to forge a new accord on international climate change. Copenhagen will hopefully go down in history as one of the few moments when nations were summoned to reach common decisions that will reshape the lives of every human being on the planet for generations to come.
Such momentous decisions necessarily require each country to assess not only its distinctive objectives but also to evaluate honestly their capability to contribute to this concerted international effort. As a government, we have assessed both our objectives and our capabilities. We are painfully aware that Malta, as a small country with a high population density and limited resources is highly vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate change. We have also realised that individually there is only so much that we can do. It is therefore in our interest to promote an urgent and ambitious effort within the international community.
It is this understanding that led Malta, notwithstanding its inherent limitations, to support the EU 2020 Climate Change package under which the Union put itself at the forefront of the efforts in achieving a global low carbon economy. It is likewise with the same spirit that last December in Poznan, Malta declared its intention to join Annex I to the UNFCCC. The rationale behind this action is sui generis. Malta does not seek to differentiate itself from others. Rather, Malta seeks to put itself on the same legal footing as its fellow Member states in a collective and responsible thrust to continue reducing emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012. This is once again a testament to the fact that Malta has never shunned its responsibilities.
The Government has chosen to take such decisions in the full knowledge that these commitments will necessarily require drastic and holistic action. We are aware of the challenges our country faces and we have consequently embarked on a series of projects and initiatives that are all aimed at placing our country on the best possible platform to meet and satisfy its various international obligations. One such example is the ‘National Strategy for Policy and Abatement Measures relating to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ which was recently finalized and which will be presented to Parliament shortly. The strategy sets out a number of mitigation measures that need to be embarked upon or pursued even further. The Climate Change Committee responsible for drafting this strategy has clarified that the steps to be taken are drastic and require immediate concerted action. I am likewise certain, that the Committee which I have recently appointed and tasked with the drafting of a National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, will successfully draft a strategy tailored to address for Malta’s adaptation concerns but which will likewise require the taking of concrete measures that are indispensable and highly challenging.
I’m sure that we all agree that while the drafting of policies on such complex and complicated issues is difficult in itself, their implementation represents an even tougher task calling for an unwavering commitment from all parties concerned. It is clear that in order to achieve the desired levels of success, the implementation of such overarching policies and recommendations cannot solely rest with the government – such responsibilities extend far beyond Government itself and would therefore require a multifaceted as well as an orchestrated approach to address the complexity of the issues at stake. The need of taking concerted action must be understood by all.
Part of the investment required to achieve cleaner energy generation in order to reach our targets amounts to 1210 million euro (1.2 billion euro). However, money is not enough there must be a change in lifestyle and in the general attitude. It was this understanding that led the Government to increase the cost of energy and services when it became clear that not paying the real cost was leading consumption to spiral out of control and there was little or no restraint on the part of the consumers.
This was a politically uncomfortable decision but one which had to be taken. Similarly, the Government is aware that it will be faced with apprehension and criticism when implementing the policies necessary to reach the 10% renewable target. The waste to energy initiative and the eventual introduction of wind farms on our territory will undoubtedly help us to achieve our renewable energy target. These decisions taken by the Government are anything but frivolous notwithstanding the physical limitations of our country and are taken notwithstanding the political repercussions.
What worries me is that instead of pulling the same rope to heighten the awareness of Maltese citizens’ on the challenges of climate change - and therefore on the pressing need to change the way we live and operate in our daily lives - some people remain adamant in spreading confusion and misinformation. This attitude is not only short-sighted in its intentions but counter productive in its results. The price that we will have to pay for inaction is a heavy one indeed and any procrastination will likewise not only hinder the government in its delicate work but will ultimately reflect on the Maltese citizens’ pockets, health and quality of life.
I believe that Malta has throughout history shown its will and its readiness to take on what are more often than not ‘painful’ commitments. I feel that I should however clarify that while Malta has always supported initiatives aimed at minimizing the impacts of climate change and while it fully understands the need to agree to a post-2012 agreement, Malta will not agree to short-sighted compromises or agreements which fall short of what is necessary. We do not want an agreement just for agreement’s sake. Any future agreement must necessarily be designed to address the global issues relating to mitigation and adaptation measures whilst taking into consideration the specific characteristics of each country.
The EU has taken on legally-binding targets to cut emissions by 20% by 2020 and has pledged to increase that amount to 30% if there are comparable efforts from other developed countries. While the EU’s strong stance in the face of the climate change threat is commendable, I feel that not enough effort has been made in defining what is expected from our international partners for the EU to take the additional commitment. Notwithstanding the fact that time is pressing, no one has defined what is meant by comparability necessary to trigger the move from a 20% to a 30% target.
While comparable efforts are rightly expected from developed countries, I think we are all cognisant of the fact that climate change cannot be tackled only by the developed world. 90% of future global emissions will come from the developing countries. Consequently, even if all developed countries reduce their emissions to 0 by 2050, the current path of emissions from developing countries would result in the average global temperature rise exceeding 2◦C. This is not an acceptable scenario.
More needs to ensure that the emerging and developing countries are on board. We need to make them understand that a changing climate will derail their development plans and that this situation can only be countered by building the capacity and investment necessary to adapt to these changes. This, I’m sure you’ll agree, can only be done with the financial and technological help from developed countries.
As I’m sure all of you are aware, the UNFCCC negotiations for the post-2012 climate change scenario are not moving at a desirable pace. I won’t elaborate on this point since I’m sure that Ambassador Michael Zammit Cutajar, the Maltese Ambassador on Climate Change and current chairman of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the UNFCCC is in a better position to brief you on this issue. I do however want to make our position on the financial assistance aspect of the proposed global agreement clear.
Malta has always stressed that it agrees that financing is a vital aspect that needs to be seen as part of an overall package. We also believe that finance for climate change should be separate from the official development assistance given to beneficiary developing countries. Likewise, Malta supports separating financing for adaptation actions from financing allocated for mitigation actions since both the beneficiaries and the objectives to be attained in relation to adaptation and mitigation are very different. Finance for adaptation should go to the most vulnerable countries, while assistance in respect of mitigation actions should go to countries on the basis of cost-effective emissions reductions.
Malta also attributes a lot of importance to the issue of governance. It is essential that funds are used in an effective and efficient manner. This can be done by requiring that a reporting and verification system be introduced as an integral part of the financial package. The current international institutional arrangements for the delivery of climate finance and support are complicated, slow and outdated. We must thus move from a project focus to one which helps developing countries transform their economies and societies as a whole and in this respect to help them devise and adopt low-carbon growth plans. Most importantly all actions taken in this respect must be carried out in a way that do not jeopardise the countries that are already at the bottom of the ladder in terms of wealth and development and make them even more vulnerable than they already are.
I realise that I may have painted a somewhat bleak picture amongst some of you on the current situation. While its undeniably true that negotiations are not moving at the desired pace, we have not thrown in the towel yet. Copenhagen must be the moment when we act together against the reality that is climate change. Just as it has done in the past, the international community must rise to the challenge. We have no choice really. The price for inaction or of action which falls short of what is needed is just too high!
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