Friends of the Earth Malta paves the way for a climate change bill

 

We couldn't have gotten this far without the hundreds and hundreds of people who contacted their MP to ask for just such a Bill - if you were one of those people, thank you!

 

Now that the long awaited Spiteri Gingell report on Climate Change is out, Friends of the Earth will analyse the content and submit its recommendations accordingly. Nonetheless, as with any other report, they are fairly useless unless there is a sound implementation structure. In this specific case we believe that this should be nothing less than a Bill. This has been tried and tested in the UK and is currently being discussed in many other European countries. FoE groups in 17 different countries are in fact asking for such legislation - http://www.bigask.eu/ .

 

In February of 2008, Friends of the Earth Malta launched its Big Ask campaign in Freedom Square, Valletta. Since then - thanks to you - we've: attended festivals and gigs and spread the word via the media and local events.

 

In December of 2008, we joined up with Zminijetna - Voice of the Left, University of Malta Geographical Society (UMGS), Nature Trust, Malta Breast Feeding Foundation, Malta Medical Students' Association (MMSA), Moviment Graffitti, Insite, BICREF and guest speakers Mr. Arnold Cassola, chairperson for Alternattiva Demokratika and the Honourable Leo Brincat Labour Party spokesperson for climate change, in St George's Square, Valletta for Global Climate Action Day.

Yesterday's parliamentary session brought hope for our Big Ask. The Bill is what people have been lobbying their MPs for. Friends of the Earth thinks that politicians would do well to work together and forget their political differences on matters as important as climate change. One should realize that the government's report and the motion raised by the opposition should have complemented each other to bring about a sense of collective leadership. Past actions should only make for a stronger commitment on Climate Change.

 

We need year-on-year cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, policies to make the cuts a reality, and ways of keeping the Government on track. With your help over the coming year we can do this.