Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1394633
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 JULY 2021 OPINION Aaron Farrugia Aaron Farrugia is minister for the environment, climate change and planning The make-or-break decade THE global climate crisis continues to persist, accelerating climate change and unprecedented loss of natural resources and biodiversity. Executive Vice President Timmermans, EU chief on Climate Poli- cy described this as "the make-or-break decade in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises". Guided by the blueprint in the European Green Deal, our continent is in for a trans- formational change and a new economic model. In this vein, on 14 July, the Europe- an Commission adopted a set of proposals to ensure that the EU is fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. These are the tools which will ensure the road to materializing Europe's commitment to become the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050. A strong signal ahead of the long-over- due UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which will be held in Glasgow later this year. This package is the core of future EU policy negotiations to enhance and reaffirm our collective level of ambi- tion and keep the EU at the forefront of climate action. Over the coming weeks and months de- tailed assessments on these various inter- linked proposals will be crucial to better understand the detail and implications in the various sectors, particularly in those crucial and sensitive sectors for our coun- try. As a small-island country it must be en- sured that our specificities are taken into fully consideration. At the base of the ne- gotiations of this package, we must en- sure that no one is left behind, that also includes small island Member States such as ours. The new Social Climate Fund is a step in the right direction, however at first glance, the maximum financial allocation of 0.1% assigned to Malta equivalent to €5,112,942 over 2025-2032 is rather disappointing, as it falls short of what will be needed. Adequate funding and investment opportunities should be secured for all Member States. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) puts a price on carbon and has long been the cornerstone of climate policy. Its revision proposes stepping up the am- bition through a lowering of the overall emission cap and an increase in its annual rate of reduction. Furthermore, it is also being proposed to phase out free emission allowances for aviation and to align it with the Global Scheme (CORSIA) as well as to include shipping emissions for the first time ev- er to the EU ETS. Needless to say, given our peripheral location and as country surrounded by sea, our island depends heavily on both the shipping and aviation sector, even solely for basic goods. Therefore, scrutiny on these proposals and any changes will need be careful as- sessed. Furthermore, a dual system is also being proposed, whereby a separate new emissions trading system would be set up for fuel distribution for road transport and buildings. This would also need to be looked into more carefully. Turning to the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), which is assigning strengthened emissions reduction targets to each Mem- ber State for buildings, road and domes- tic maritime transport, agriculture, waste and small industries. In this regard, the European Commission is not proposing a higher target for Malta. The previously assigned -19% reduction target is already ambitious enough. The Commission has clearly understood the arguments put forward by the Govern- ment, as the lowest emitter per capita, and the need for us to remain within realistic and viable parameters. This is a result of the Government's commitment and in- tense discussions which have taken place over the last months, both at political and technical level. In the case of the revision of the Regula- tion on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), this places the target for the EU to reach climate neutrality in this area by 2035, through carbon remov- als by natural sinks. The new EU Forest Strategy is an opportunity to improve the resilience of forests and preserve biodiver- sity. Having said that, we all know that Malta has a limited forest land and therefore has limited sinks. Making the link between cli- mate action and biodiversity, and adjust- ing to our specific circumstances, we too are ensuring our efforts to preserve and restore our natural resources. Through several initiatives and including through a number of greening projects which have already been undertaken across our is- lands and others which we intend creat- ing. To accelerate the transition to a green- er energy system, another aspect of these proposals focuses on energy. The Renew- able Energy Directive, which increased the renewable sources of energy target, and the Energy Efficiency Directive, which enshrines more ambitious binding annual target for reducing energy use at EU level, will therefore both play a crucial role. A lot has already been done in our energy sector and will continue to explore ave- nues of increasing both renewables and energy efficiency. Stronger CO2 emissions standards for cars and vans, complemented by the emissions trading, will ensure a transition to zero-emission mobility. The European Commission has set zero emissions from new cars by 2035. Our Low Carbon Devel- opment Strategy (LCDS) already envisag- es a package of measures and incentivize, such as enhancing grant schemes, to shift away from private car use and to acceler- ate the transition to electric vehicles. Furthermore, it seeks to ensure citizens will have the right infrastructure needed to charge these vehicles. Leading by exam- ple, the Government will electrify its fleet. The list of proposals is much longer than this with more updates to existing EU laws and new legislative proposals being put forward as part of the package. These include the Revision of the Alternative Fu- els Infrastructure Regulation, the Fuel EU Maritime Initiative, the Revision of the Market Stability Reserve, the Revision of the Energy Taxation Directive, and a new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Bluntly speaking, the journey will not be easy. Extra pressures from this transition will be felt in the short run. However, we need to look at the bigger picture. In the long run the benefits of delivering on cli- mate policy outweigh the cost which will be incurred by this transition. This is a package which involves a num- ber of different sectors and the shared re- sponsibility of all EU Member States. We will succeed, only if we ensure a collective effort to deliver on these interlinked and complementary proposals. Our country is headed on the right pathway towards our environmental and climate goals. We will continue to be guided on this trajectory through our Low Carbon Devel- opment Strategy (LCDS), our Long Term Renovation Strategy (LCDS) and our Na- tional Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), through efforts from both the public and private sectors, as well as individuals alike. Looking ahead, the negotiations on this package will be crucial as it has the poten- tial to be a game changer for our continent and an example for the world.