BusinessToday Previous Editions

10 COMMERCIAL FOR most of 2020, climate change has been eclipsed by the coronavirus pan- demic in news coverage worldwide. Vulnerability to its impacts, however, is still very much a reality because the science remains unchanged: the entire world is warming at an alarmingly dan- gerous rate. As terrible as the pandem- ic is, the effects of climate change will be worse – sooner rather than later. "It is difficult to think about climate change as a pressing issue because, especially in Malta, we can't say that we feel its impact on a daily basis," Michelle Borg, Green and Blue Devel- opment Unit Manager at the Planning Authority (PA) told BusinessToday. Having worked at the PA since its ear- ly days, Borg drives the integration of sustainable development within Mal- ta's spatial planning. "When we do eventually feel the need to act, it may already be too late, which is why we need to plan. Effective planning is crucial because it provides a strategic direction to follow. Spatial planning originally emerged as a tool to help people efficiently plan their towns and cities," Borg said. "It has since also been embraced as a powerful instrument to support sus- tainability. Often, though, this is for- gotten and other priorities overshadow the planning process. When dealing with climate change, this is problem- atic." Five years ago, the PA made signifi- cant headway towards establishing a strategic vision for how Malta can re- duce its impact on climate change, as well as adapt to it. e 2015 Strategic Plan for Environment and Develop- ment (SPED) is a holistic blueprint for balancing the country's socio-econom- ic development with the protection of its natural surroundings. "With the SPED, we wanted to offer a strategic vision for Malta's sustain- able development. We built on previ- ous planning policies and documents – including the 1992 Structure Plan, Local Plans of 2006, the National Envi- ronment Policy and State of the Envi- ronment Report – with new emerging policies linked to low carbon econo- mies to craft a philosophy that could be adopted in a more detailed manner by development processes and subsidiary, more specific policies and legislation," Borg said. "We identified climate change as one of the SPED's main topics because, due to our small size and location, the Mal- tese Islands are vulnerable to the pre- dicted impact of climate change and it will shape our future. Our vulnerability relates to our location in southern Eu- rope and the fact that we are a highly urbanised small archipelago with very little space to manoeuvre. "We are facing decreased annual rainfall that may lead to drought and yet more intensive storms and down- pours that could trigger flash floods. So, we need to protect our freshwater resources, which includes recharg- ing our aquifers. Changes in sea level, though, will affect our coastal areas and groundwater, which will impact the ecological and agricultural pro- cesses that our daily socio-economic activities rely on, not to mention eco- nomic activities located on the shore." Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital in the fight against climate change, so the SPED's primary objec- tive in this regard is to support Malta's actions to reduce emissions. "In Malta, energy generation is key. Our switch from heavy fuel oil to natural gas has helped, but we're still lagging in targets linked to land use, transport and waste. Importantly, if we made a concerted effort to support energy-effi- cient development, we'd be helping Malta reduce emissions." e SPED also iden- tifies the integration of renewable energy infra- structure and materials into the design, construc- tion and operation of buildings, par- ticularly in Malta's public, industrial and commercial sectors. It also refers to the need to improve public transit and promote renewable fuel sources and zero-carbon modes of transport. "Now that the plan reaches its five- year mark its review will start to en- sure that it remains a strategic plan ahead of its time. It is also a time for the public to get involved in solidifying our strategic direction by actively par- ticipating in the various public consul- tation phases which will be rolled out in the months ahead." "All of us – collectively – can act to reduce and mitigate our effects on the environment, as well as enhance Malta's capacity to adapt to climate change," explains Ms Borg in her final remarks. "Climate change will impact our health, environment and economy. More than ever, we need to plan stra- tegically and that is where a document like the SPED can serve its purpose, as a kicking-off point for Malta's authori- ties and its residents. A comprehensive response, however, relies on this stra- tegic vision being tangibly applied in daily life." Malta's Strategic Plan for Environ- ment and Development can be ac- cessed via: https://www.pa.org.mt/ strategic-plan How can Malta plan for climate change? 29.10.2020 Michelle Borg, Green and Blue Development Unit Manager at the Planning Authority Most of the world is shockingly unprepared – and unwilling – to combat climate change. But that is not to say a path ahead cannot be forged. Michelle Borg, from Malta's Planning Authority, shares some insight into how the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (SPED) proposes measures to support Malta's actions to mitigate and prepare for climate change through effective spatial planning

• Cover