National strategy for policy and abatement measures relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract

The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs presents this National Strategy for Policy and Abatement Measures relating to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions following a review of the work submitted to it by the Climate Change Committee it had appointed in June 2008 and a review of the feedback received following the national consultation process the Ministry held between January 2009 and March 2009. It is pertinent to underline that in presenting this Strategy, public feedback is incorporated to calibrate or to introduce new actions within the Strategy to the extent that these were considered to add value to a realisable national strategy directed to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. To the extent possible, the Strategy seeks to articulate the action that is to be adopted. Moreover, the Strategy has sought to prioritise each action – on the basis of financial cost, ability to implement, clear economic and environment impact, immediate positive impact and whether an abatement measure stems from a specific EU and / or UNFCCC requirement. It is pertinent to underline that a number of the actions proposed in this Strategy require further study. It is not possible, nor realistic, to expect that the Strategy would be totally comprehensive in terms of the details and impacts of each policy and / or abatement measures placed under consideration. Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction encompass practically the whole gamut of public policy. An attempt, therefore, to present the Strategy as conclusive and definitive would only serve to discredit what is an important step forward in this critical policy domain. Thus, where it was so possible, the Strategy, basing itself on the excellent work of the Climate Change Unit within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, has sought to estimate the impact in terms of Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction as a direct result of a particular abatement measure. Where it has not been possible to determine this, the Strategy states so. Moreover, a number of actions proposed in the Strategy require further detailed studies in their own right – comprehensive analysis to determine whether the respective action under consideration in actual fact is realisable, and more importantly, that it renders the highest tCO2e reduction in Greenhouse Gas for every €1 investment required to realise the said measure. It is imperative, therefore, to emphasise, that the presentation of this Strategy is one more step in the long journey that requires a process of change, review and transformation in the way Malta has behaved to date with regards to Climate Change by placing it, and therefore the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions, at the heart of public policy. It is also imperative to underline that the Strategy as presented in this document is not immutable: mistakes will be made, lessons will be learnt, circumstances will change, new challenges will emerge and unforeseen opportunities will arise. It so follows, therefore, that it is of strategic critical importance that the Strategy is maintained as dynamically as possible – therefore requiring constant review, validation, re-consideration, re-orientation, and re-prioritisation as and where appropriate.