Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1424528
Robert Abela is Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela 13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 OCTOBER 2021 OPINION A lifeline for Malta, the EU and the planet THE UN Climate Change Con- ference kicking off in Glas- gow from tomorrow will offer Heads of Government the op- portunity to turn an existential threat into a window of hope and opportunity for present and future generations. The Conference of the Parties, better known as the COP, is the multilateral decision-making body that can make this hap- pen. Six years after the conclu- sion of the Paris Agreement in 2015, COP 26 is tasked with a revision of the pledges made by its Parties in Paris. This review process ensures that the Paris Agreement remains fit for pur- pose to heed the warnings of the IPCC assessment reports. 2020 was earmarked as the year when the Paris Agreement is to become operational to gradually achieve its main ob- jective of climate neutrality by 2050. This is the Paris Agree- ment's milestone intended to maintain a limited increase of 2 to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the global mean temperature of the planet by the end of the centu- ry. If this objective is met, it would avoid catastrophic out- comes but would still require humanity and other living re- sources to adapt to the effects of climate change. Ironically, 2020 was the very first time in twenty-six years that the conference did not take place due to COVID-19. The economic downturn caused by the pandemic runs the risk of stalling States from revising their targets under the Paris Agreement and from up- scaling them to make them am- bitious enough to turn the tide. Together with other Europe- an Union member states, we have chosen to use recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as a renewed commitment to achieve the Green Deal, with decarbonisation as one of its many interrelated pillars. Since the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, the EU member States actually raised the stakes and aimed for collectively reaching a target that reduces greenhouse gases by 55%. The EU members States consider decarbonisation and adapta- tion to climate change as es- sential to achieving resilience. The climate emergency ethos requires all States to contrib- ute and collectively embark on a decarbonisation process that will tip the scales and avoid global warming from reaching the point of no return, causing extinction of life on the planet as we know it. Malta too has chosen decar- bonisation as a pathway and a pillar for its economic vision. But the many challenges to achieve this goal require us to ensure that the transition is just and does not create dis- parities and social injustice. Our government will lead by example and create the right conditions and a level playing field to facilitate the neces- sary shift for the private sec- tor, business and civil society. We need to continue to engage in a constructive dialogue to identify options that will nudge behavioural change in the right direction without disrupting social cohesion. There is no room for parti- san politics when dealing with climate change. In the end our nation as a small island state, is the smallest emitter in the EU, but may be among the worst hit by the effects of climate change in our region. As proof of our commitment to this cause we have ear- marked 54% of our Recovery and Resilience Plan, and an unprecedented amount of local funds, to set decarbonisation in motion at a national level. Transforming our econom- ic model into a climate neu- tral one, spurs us to be on the forefront as a small nation to lead among other small island states, by sharing our experi- ences, discussing our options, and looking at how we aim to proceed with upskilling and re- skilling our people so as to re- main competitive and resilient. Our nation has had to adapt in various ways throughout our history to face and overcome various external challenges and threats. This is another cause for change. This time around we are far from insular in our approach to shift our economic model. We aim to share our ex- periences and learn from oth- ers. As an EU member state, we have the most robust legal framework to address climate change on a national level. This will sustain us to live up to our legacy in considering climate change as a common concern of humankind. This way we will keep up with those States that choose to be on the right side of history for the benefit of future generations. Our nation as a small island state, is the smallest emitter in the EU, but may be among the worst hit by the effects of climate change in our region Protestors march in Dusseldorf, Germany, during the September 2021 Climate Strike