Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512576
Cyrus Engerer Alex Agius Saliba Cyrus Engerer is a Labour MEP part of the S&D Group Alex Agius Saliba is a Labour MEP part of the S&D group 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 DECEMBER 2023 OPINION WITH all of us becoming so much more aware of the need to preserve our environment and fight climate change, it is no wonder that many companies, organisations and govern- ments speak about and advertise their green credentials. But have you ever found yourself questioning whether what is being claimed is truthful or not? Are some of these claims simply greenwashing exercises and what are the repercus- sions of such a situation on those that are truly making big efforts to work, manufacture and offer prod- ucts and services that respect the environment? Greenwashing exercises have be- come common place and are threat- ening to erode the very foundations of environmental trust and integrity. In a study, the European Commis- sion found in 2020 that 40% of in- vestigated environmental claims in the European Union were baseless, while 53% were ambiguous, decep- tive, or unfounded. This is allowed to happen due to the gap in existing laws, with no regulations on green claims. This is not merely a European real- ity, it is a global one. The Guardian in the United Kingdom investigated a number of green carbon offsetting claims made by large multinationals and found that 92% of them were fake or exaggerated. When before summer I was tasked by the Socialist Group to lead the Eu- ropean Parliament negotiations on the new law proposed by the Com- mission, I made it a point that we must reach a Parliament position by the end of the mandate, even if this was only a few months away. This legislature's legacy will undoubted- ly be its environmental fight and my wish is to close the remaining gaps in legislation. The Green Claims Directive will require companies to substantiate any of their environmental claims. We want a system where it will no longer be acceptable for anyone to claim that they have an environmen- tal products or services without ac- tually there being a process to verify such claims. This verification pro- cess should be based on robust, sci- ence based and verifiable methods. To do this, I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all law. Assessing the environmental footprint of a prod- uct or service or of an organisation must be done in a different way, in different sectors. As an example, one cannot have the same methodology to assess the manufacture of clothes to the services given in the Hotrec industry. This piece of legislation must also differentiate between multinationals and big companies and our SMEs and micro enterprises. Studies show that small companies are more flex- ible and are better agents for inno- vation. At the same time, they are among the most honest on their environmental credentials. 84% of people tend to trust local businesses more than the big chains and multi- nationals when it comes to various claims. Micro enterprises are the engines of our economy in Europe. This is even more so in Malta. They drive job creation, they grow the economy and increase social cohesion. Many of them also strive to do things with an environmental conscience and while they will be exempted from the law, because we believe that they should not be burdened administra- tively, they can opt-in themselves to acquire certification of their prod- ucts, services or organisation. Ultimately, consumers have shown a lot of frustration at not know- ing which claims are reliable and which are misleading. That said, in their majority, consumers believe that there are systems in place that verify such claims. It's time to close the gap, protect consumers, bolster competitiveness and ensure that the fight to protect the environment and fight climate change is a real one, rid of fraudsters who simply want to make a good buck out of genuine consumers. THIS week UNESCO is holding its eighteenth session of the Intergovern- mental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. One of the items on the agenda is the recog- nition of the traditional Maltese festa as an intangible heritage. This notable milestone in the recog- nition of a unique Maltese tradition was achieved following years of hard work by the Labour government. The recognition and preservation of our traditions plays a key role in defin- ing who we are and what makes us a unique family of 27 distinct European nations in an increasingly globalised world. Our traditions and culture also serve as a source of social and econom- ic wealth. Krakelingen and Tonnekensbrand, the Maltese festa, and the Varia di Pal- mi are a few examples of important networking events which boost the kinship between neighbours in a com- munity. This kinship forms the basis for our social fabric and cohesion and improves our quality of life. Kinship al- so reduces society's reliance on social assistance from the government. Our culture and heritage are trade- mark features for our tourism sectors and hence a direct source of economic wealth too. Many Mediterranean des- tinations are associated with the mass exodus towards warm weather in sum- mer. These once yearly cycles of mass tourism are sometimes the source of tension with exasperated locals who feel stifled and trampled on in their own homes. Our heritage and cultural events may be enjoyed throughout the year and hence less likely to be a source of 'nuisance tourism'. The locals are also more likely to be patient and receptive towards tourists who wish to appre- ciate their way of life. It is therefore imperative that we proactively aim to not just uphold anything that makes us unique but also to enhance the image and experience of what we have to of- fer. I try to use my influence within the European Parliament to promote the protection of all traditions wherever possible. Earlier this year I intervened to en- sure that the EU's local representatives are able to speak the Maltese language. The ability to speak our language is an indispensable requirement for an indi- vidual to integrate in our society and be able to understand our frame of mind. Various EU funding streams incen- tivise initiatives that safeguard cul- tural heritage, including the flagship Creative Europe programme, and a handy online tool makes life easier for interested parties. The budget for this programme increased by 50% for the 2021-2027 cycle, but a sizeable share is reserved for initiatives which augment cooperation between countries. Whilst the promotion of our shared European culture is desirable, I believe that pure- ly local and regional features are even more relevant. The EU exists because of, and not in spite of, our diversity and we must increase the funds available to celebrate and protect this diversity. It is important that we remain on the alert as these unique features which make us proud to be Maltese are frag- ile and may easily be lost. I understand the concern that Valletta's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site may be lost if development is not planned more carefully. Overdevelopment in our village cores may lead to a loss of key architectonic features. In the fu- ture, it may be worth considering add- ing safeguards at European level for culture and heritage on similar lines to what was done through the Natura 2000 network for environmentally im- portant areas. I meet representatives of the organi- sations which keep our traditions alive on a regular basis to appreciate their difficulties and concerns. I shall con- tinue doing so and I give you my word that I will continue doing my best to promote initiatives which facilitate the recognition, preservation, and en- hancement of our heritage. I take this opportunity to praise the Bormliżi for sticking to tradition by celebrating their feast when it is due, and to wish them well for their upcoming festa week. Fighting Greenwashing. Forging a Green Europe Our cultural heritage socialistsanddemocrats.eu/