Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green Party said today “that in Parliament, it will ensure that the environmental policy is truly prioritised.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “In parliament, AD will ensure that the environment is mainstreamed in policy and legislative processes. Among our proposals, we are calling for a true reform of MEPA, which will result in greater empowerment of civil society representatives such as environmental NGOs. We are calling for sustainable water policies, for environmental justice, and for empowerment of local communities.

“As regards the latter, AD is proposing the introduction of local referenda on projects deemed controversial by local councils or residents.

“A project will be submitted for the community’s consideration in a referendum after all the relative studies would have been concluded and made available for a reasonable time for all those wishing to peruse them. However in the case of infrastructural projects of national importance it shall be possible for Parliament (which represents the whole community at a national level) to intervene and take a final decision after ascertaining that the objections of the local community have been addressed. Parliament would then assume responsibility for respective decisions.”

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairman and Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs stated that the “Environment Chapter of AD’s Manifesto deals with 28 different areas of environmental policy all of which are important.”

Carmel Cacopardo emphasised the following points :

i) Exisiting fragmentation of environmental governance is to be tackled through the amalgamation of MEPA and MRA under the leadership of a strengthened Environmental Directorate.

ii) The selection of those who run the amalgamated authority should be done by Parliament through a Select Committee and not by government.

iii) Land use planning is an environmental issue just as air quality or waste management and as such it should be run under the direction of the Environment Directorate.

iv) Parliament needs to be alert and rather then send its representatives to participate in the Authority’s decision taking it should monitor the workings of the same authority,

v) Applying the subsidiarity principle our localities should be given a decision taking role on projects which are subject to an EIA; Parliament to have over-riding powers on projects of national importance.

vi) Environmental burdens should, as far as is possible be spread and not focused on the south.

vii) Standing up to illegal construction such as the Armier shanty town is an issue of environmental justice.

viii) Water resources should be properly managed and it should be clear to one and all that the water table is public property.

ix) The spiralling stock of vacant properties leads to the need to apply a break to large scale development though a moratorium on such development as well as the reversal of the rationalisation exercise and other policies which encouraged intensification of building developement.

x) The building industry is ripe for restructuring.

xi) Stone resources should be protected.

xii) Waste streams should be properly managed; in particular we need to pay attention to specialised waste streams and ensure that existing scrapyards are brought in line with the EU acquis.

xiii) A sustainable development infrastructure is required; it should be based on a refoundation of the National Commission for Sustainable Development which was disbanded in 2012 after not functioning for years.

xiv) More attention should be paid to issues of biodiversity, noise pollution and light pollution.

xv) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Malta should be placed on a sound footing.

Carmel Cacopardo concluded by stating that “AD in parliament would signify that environmental politics will be placed on the national agenda out of conviction and no longer as a result of political convenience.”

Permalink: Environment will be a Green Priority in Parliament – AD