Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/649887
20 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 MARCH 2016 Opinion Green optimism " People vote with their pocketbooks" – the saying goes. Economic issues carry more political weight than any other. But when presented with an explicit choice of priorities – protecting the environment or economic growth – the majority of the public choose protecting the environment. This seems to be the general feeling as pictured in a recent survey by MaltaToday. One way of seeing it is that the environ- ment is more of a concern at this point in time, given that our economy is performing stongly. There seems to be an ever-growing belief that economic growth and the environment are constantly in competition, where any gain on one side would be interpreted as a loss to the other. The Opposition is happy fuelling this misconception. It hopes to gain political points with the impression that our economic success is coming at the expense of the environment. I am a firm believer that the natural environment is an important component of any economic system, and without a healthy natural environment our economic system would not be able to thrive properly. That is why we need to treat the natural environ- ment in the same way as we treat labour and capital, as an asset and a resource. The new Malta Environment Authority, being set up, will be focused on protecting the environment and improving the sector, assuming the role of an effective regulator. For the first time, Malta will have an autono- mous authority to focus on environmental protection, where the environment is given equal importance to development. Is it possible to make perceived competing goals compatible? The concept of sustain- able development offers the opportunity to work together towards achieving common goals rather than putting economic growth and the natural environment on a compet- ing platform. Sustainable development means being able to avoid environmental degradation by integrating economic and environmental decisions, making them compatible. For this government, this means incorporating environmental decisions within our economic development model. As our economy continues to grow, the importance of its sustainability becomes more imperative than ever. Towards the end of 2015, the government launched Malta's first ever national strategy and action plan for a green economy. The document lists 53 proposals in nine pivotal sectors which should result in green-led growth once they come to fruition. Green growth should be linked to all those initiatives that strengthen the basis of sustainable development, through the ap- plication of clean air technology, improved energy efficiency in the products we use and in the way we build, increased resource efficiency, re-use and recycling of waste, improved water management, greener buildings and fewer polluting vehicles on our roads. We have to make sure consumers have ac- cess to affordable sustainable products and energy. Cleaner, less costly energy produc- tion is a means to achieve this. The shift to natural gas spearheaded by this government will help improve the quality of the air we breathe. A change in consumption behaviour is also necessary; not merely from an environmen- tal point of view, but from a quality of life perspective too. Earlier this month, the government launched a management plan brief for "L-Inwadar National Park" for consultation. It offers an ambitious vision, with six objec- tives and 28 priority actions. The actions are intended to preserve cultural heritage and natural landscapes through sustainable use, to create attractive recreation opportunities in harmony with nature, to enable natural and cultural attractions to be experienced, to improve the quality of life in the south of Malta and to promote nature conservation and sustainable development. L-Inwadar National Park has all the attributes to become a model where economic develop- ment, the natural and rural environment, and our cultural heritage co-exist sustain- ably. This government has the courage and political will to make this happen. Alex Muscat is a Mosta local councillor for Labour Alex Muscat Full Colour Version C: M: Y: K: 0 0 0 100 C: M: Y: K: 0 100 100 0 C: M: Y: K: 50 100 100 20 TUNA AQUAMED MFF Ltd. - Hangar, Triq it-Trunciera, Marsaxlokk MXK1522 T: 2247 5000 E: contact@ebcon.com.mt www.mff.com.mt Farmed in Maltese offshore waters and delivered to you with special attention to freshness and to the highest standards. LOOK FOR OUR QUALITY MARK IN YOUR SUPERMARKET, FISHMONGER OR RESTAURANT FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. EAT FRESH EAT HEALTHY ENJOY OUR SEA BREAM