Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1354939
As the EU and the world continue to undeniably face increasingly frequent and severe climate and weather extremes, desertification, ocean acidification, and sea level rises, loss of biodiversity, land and ecosystem degradation, measures and actions will remain at the top of the agenda 12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 MARCH 2021 OPINION Aaron Farrugia Aaron Farrugia is minister for the environment, climate change and planning THE success of the Paris Agreement re- quires the EU to reduce its own emissions. An essential part of that success involves cooperation with our global partners. Hence, opportunely our PES environ- ment ministers meeting last week was kick-started with a briefing by European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans on the meeting with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Cli- mate, John Kerry. Continued efforts to drive forward the sustainability agenda, both at the EU-level and globally, are needed to shape a socie- ty which is resilient enough to withstand shock to the any of the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and en- vironmental. The meeting, chaired by German Min- ister for the Environment, Nature Con- servation and Nuclear Safety, Germany – Svenja Schulze, further included the European Climate Law, the EU Strategy on Adaption to Climate Change and the Member States' Recovery and Resilience Plans. 'Greener, smarter and more resil- ient – this is the recovery we must build' is the key takeaway from our meeting. Action for the climate is a priority. A year ago, European Commission Exec- utive Vice-President Frans Timmermans presented the Climate Law.. It is now cru- cial that work is focused on reaching an agreement on this proposal. Just last month, the EU Strategy on Ad- aptation to Climate Change was presented by the European Commission. As a small island country with limited natural re- sources and highly exposed to climate im- pacts, Malta has long advocated the need for climate adaptation actions. We now need to ensure the right level of impor- tance is given also to adaptation. Executive Vice-President Timmermans also stressed the importance of having an ambitious 'Fit for 55 package' which is ex- pected to be presented later this year. Ministers pointed out the opportunity stemming from the Recovery and Resil- ience Plans, which are currently being drafted by the Member States, allowing to speed up the recovery in Europe and rein- forcing the commitment to the twin tran- sitions: green and digital. The European Green Deal, together with all its branching measures, needs to be at the heart of the pandemic's recovery. As the EU and the world continue to undeniably face increasingly frequent and severe climate and weather extremes, de- sertification, ocean acidification, and sea level rises, loss of biodiversity, land and ecosystem degradation, measures and ac- tions will remain at the top of the agenda. Fast-forwarding to a post-COVID-19 life, sustainable progress and an ambitious climate approach are what should define this new tomorrow. On this road to recovery, Malta is al- ready embracing this European Green Deal by embedding measures into society to combat climate change and strengthen our resilience. We are investing more into families, businesses, infrastructure, and the envi- ronment. From the upcoming Low Car- bon Development Strategy, which will lead up to the decarbonisation of our economy in line with Malta's economic vision for 2020-2050 and the attainment of carbon neutrality by 2050 to the Long- Term Renovation Strategy. From the Noise Action Plan to a new National Bio- diversity Strategy and Action Plan for the years 2022-2030. From the new Waste Management Plan, which charts the developments in the sector till 2030, to all our work and initi- atives from an environmental dimension. One example is the Green Your Building scheme financed by the Planning Author- ity with an investment of €2 million. The reality is that we need to continue gearing ourselves towards a sustainable development model where all citizens can grow, live, work, and age in an environ- ment that optimises their quality of life and wellbeing. For better preparedness and for a better tomorrow. Gearing ourselves for a green economy