Envisioning a national climate service for Malta

Abstract

The link between public policy and climate change has never been as strong as it is now. From the most recent international climate change conferences in Paris, Madrid and Glasgow to emissions regulations, resilience and adaptation, national governments forge public policies aimed at managing the impacts of climate change on primary economic sectors. This is also valid locally where manufacturing, agriculture and energy are just three important sectors that are sensitive to a changing climate. This short article describes the importance of basing our national public policies on factual information that reflects the real impact of a changing climate on our Maltese assets, and not just on an assumed, theoretical one. It aims to make public officials in the public sector aware of the limitations in the local infrastructure that deals with the documentation, archiving, provision and understanding of how physical climate parameters are changing over time and how these can be used by national authorities to redefine public policies accordingly so as to make them Malta specific. Without this knowledge there is a danger that public policies will be less effective or even counterproductive to a select number of our economic sectors, and ultimately to the quality of life of the Maltese people.