In its bid to start implementing Malta’s Sustainable Development Vision for 2050, the Ministry within the Office of the Prime Minister appointed two Committees who will be jointly responsible for coordinating the islands’ sustainable development.
As announced by tvm.com.mt late last week, Minister Carmelo Abela has held a virtual meeting with the new members of these two new Committees.
The Guardian of Future Generations and the Sustainable Development Network will promote sustainable development with political entities, and establish a platform of information exchange that will promote innovative solutions for sustainable principles.
Both Committees are composed of members with expertise in three key pillars – the economy, the environment and the social sector.
These include two UM academics, namely Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino from the Department of Sociology, who will serve as the Deputy Chair of this network, and Dr Philip von Brockdorff from the Department of Economics, who was appointed a member of the SDN.
“I am confident that this linking of knowledge to action for the betterment of society will make for an even bigger catalyst for change. Most of us are aware of how sustainability can be a complex and overwhelming issue, but with the necessary expertise, we will be able to better understand this complexity and help steer society in the right direction”, said Prof. Baldacchino about this initiative.
On his part, Dr von Brockdorff referred to the challenge posed by climate change. “The Government is in the process of launching a strategic plan that will guide Malta’s contribution to achieving the European Union’s 2030 objectives and targets, primarily in the areas of GHG emissions reductions, renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity interconnectivity. The Network can provide support and advice through its expertise during the implementation of that strategy.”
Meanwhile, the University of Malta itself is pioneering its own green development through its internal Committee for a Sustainable University of Malta (C-SUM). This was set up by Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, and closely follows UM’s alignment with the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.