Alternattiva Demokratika today hosted a delegation from Friends of the Earth to discuss various issues related to climate change and the environment.

AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola said, “AD has 10 concrete proposals to tackle the energy issue and Malta’s complete dependance on fossil fuels.”

Proposals:

1. Increase in efficiency in power generation plants: Efficiency of the current power stations is around 32%. This means that 68% of oil is literslly being wasted. We propose increasinf efficiency by another 15% to 20% by investment in modern technology.

2. Incentives for individuals and families: Replacing a million incandescent light bulbs with energy saving lamps by distributing lamps to families in exchange for normal filament lamps. This will reduce electricity for lighting by around 20% to 25%. Phasing out of filament lamps.

3. 50,000 solar water heaters for Maltese and Gozitan households – financed by reduction in energy consumption. Only 8% of households use this proven and effective technology. This is simply too low a figure.

4. 5,000 photovoltaic systems for Maltese and Gozitan households – financed by a mechanism with favourable rates for extra electricity fed back to the grid.

5. Construction regulations – access to sunlight rules and access to roof for solar heaters and photovoltaic systems should be guaranteed. All new buildings should have solar water heaters.

6. Energy audits – all families, over a period of 5 years should be audited for energy use and shown how to reduce energy consumption.

7. Cheap electricity from a land based wind farm – 4 to 5, 750kW wind turbines should be erected to gain experience in this technology in an approprite location. This is the logical first step to take as regards energy from wind since this technology is already well developed and much cheaper than offshore wind farms.

8. Renewable energy fund for industry – Investment in energy saving and clean energy generation systems by industry should be incentivised.

9. A climate change pact with all social partners should be drawn up to set out the way forward and the duties and obligations of the different players in the country to tackle the energy crisis.

10. New clean energy technologies should be given priority by Malta Enterprise. Former dockyard and Shipbuilding workers should be retrained in this field.

Arnold Cassola also mentioned how the Greens in the European Parliament are always at the forefront in proposing the necessary measures to reduce pollution and reform Europe’s energy infrastructure. “Other political groups, unfortunatley give in to big industry and seek to water down standards and targets. Voting records for MEPs on climate change issues, including Maltese MEPs can be seen at http://stopclimatechange.net/votetracker.”

Arnold Cassola also spoke of AD’s record in the environmental field and praised the work of environmental NGOs and volunteers who give their time to work for the cause they believe in. “We support all those who are working to stop the destruction of Wied il-Ghasel in Mosta. We are very worried of the constant attack on our natural heritage, like the proposed road in Ghadira which seems to have been proposed to serve the interests of the few. Other attacks on our natural heritage are the proposed development at Hondoq ir-Rummien and Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo.”

“We are pleased that in the recent past environmental NGOs, social NGOs and political parties such as Alternattiva Demokratika came together to save whole areas of Malta from destruction. An example which springs to mind is the golf course proposed by the Prime Minister in Xaghra l-Hamra in Ghajn Tuffieha. Through cooperation and unity and the force of arguments we managed to stop the destructive project in its tracks.”

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