Fit-tmiem ta’ attivita’ dwar il-bidla fil-klima organizzata minn Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ fid-daħla tal-Belt Valletta, Mina Tolu (kandidat għall-Parlament Ewropew) u ċ-Chairperson ta’ AD Carmel Cacopardo (kandidat għall-Parlament Ewropew) indirizzaw lill-istampa.

Mina Tolu spjegat it-talbiet li tħejjew minn Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ, liema talbiet jirriflettu anke t-talbiet li qed isiru fuq livell Ewropew minn partiti ħodor u membri parlamentari tal-Ħodor fil-Parlament Ewropew. “Hemm bżonn investiment serju biex l-enerġija li tintuża tintuża b’mod effiċjenti, biex issir tranżizzjoni lejn ekonomija sostenibbli u enerġija mija fil-mija nadifa, u investiment f’teknoloġiji li jtejjbu l-kwalita’ tal-ħajja tagħna u jiġġieldu l-effetti tal-bidla fil-klima. Ix-xjenzati jgħidulna li d-dinja għandha tnax-il sena biex intafu l-agħar effetti tal-bidla fil-klima. Hemm bżonn azzjoni kemm fuq livell nazzjonali, fuq livell tal-Unjoni Ewropea u anke fuq livell dinji. Malta tista’ tkun ta’ eżempju ta’ ekonomija sostenibbli li tħares l-kwalita’ tal-ħajja tan-nies.”

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD Carmel Cacopardo qal li l-bidla għall-enerġija mill-gass kien pass tajjeb, iżda l-gass jitqies bħala fjuwil ta’ tranżizzjoni għal enerġija rinnovabbli. Neħtieġu iktar energija mix-xemx u mir-riħ u naraw li jkun hemm użu tal-energija mill-mewġ. Dawn it-teknoloġiji jwasslu għal tipi ta’ xogħol sostenibbli u fl-istess ħin jikkontribwixxu lejn kwalita’ ta’ ħajja aħjar għal kulħadd.”

“It-trasport għadu probelma kbira u jidher li l-problema se tkompli tikber minħabba żieda astronomika fin-numru ta’ karozzi. Sfortunatament l-Gvern minflok jinvesti f’trasport sostenibbli u nadif qed jagħmel programm qawwi ta’ xogħol infrastrutturali li qed iservi biex jinkoraġġixxi l-użu tal-karozzi u per konsegwenza jhassar il-progress li qed jinkiseb biż-żieda fl-użu tat-trasport pubbliku. Irridu investiment serju f’infrastruttura għar-roti u r-roti elettriċi.” 

Carmel Cacopardo qal ukoll li l-mina ta’ Ghawdex hi essenzjalment mina għall-karozzi mhux  għan-nies. “Filfatt huwa stmat li fi 15-il sena l-ammont ta’ karozzi li jaqsmu l-fliegu se jiżdied minn 3000 għal 9000 karozza. Servizz għan-nies ifisser servizzi ta’ fast-ferry minn Għawdex sal-qalba ta’ Malta. Il-mina tinkoragixxi l-uzu tal-karozzi ghax il-hlas li jingabar ser ikun minn fuq in-numru ta’ karozzi.”

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Climate Change: need for concrete action

At the end of a public activity on climate change organised by ADŻ (Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ – Youths of the Green Party) at City Gate, Valletta, Mina Tolu (AD candidate for the European Parliament) and AD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo (also candidate for the European Parliament) addressed the press.

Mina Tolu explained the demands drawn up by ADŻ, which claims reflect those being made at a European level by Green parties as well as green MEPs. “We need investment to ensure efficient use of energy, as well as to ensure the transition to a sustainable economy and hundred per cent clean energy that better everyone’s quality of life and combat climate change. Scientists estimate that just twelve years are left before climate change becomes very difficult to reverse the impacts of climate change. Action at a local, European and global level is called for. Malta can set an example as to what it means to be a sustainable economy which ensures the quality of life of its citizens.”

Carmel Cacopardo, AD Chairperson stated that “the changeover of energy generation from HFO to gas was a positive step. However gas is considered as a transition fuel, in transit in the path to renewable energy generation. We require more energy generated from the sun and wind and we also need to ensure that good use is made of energy generated from waves so abundant in the seas around us. The application of technology will lead to the creation of new sustainable jobs and simultaneously contribute to the betterment of everyone’s quality of life.”

“Transport is still a problem”, added Carmel Cacopardo “the problem will escalate further due to the astronomic increase in the number of cars on the roads. Unfortunately, instead of investing in sustainable transport, government has embarked on a massive programme of further development of the road infrastructure which will only end up in encouraging more cars on our roads. Consequently this will negativate the progress being registered with the registered increases in the use of public transport. We require real investments in infrastructure for bicycles and pedelecs.”  

Carmel Cacopardo added that the proposed tunnel between Malta and Gozo is essentially a tunnel for the use of cars not for people. In fact it is estimated that the vehicle movement between the two islands is projected to increase from 3000 to 9000 vehicle movements daily over a fifteen year period. A service provided for the movement of people would be a fast ferry service : from Gozo to the commercial centres of Malta.” The encouragement of the use of cars is central to the projected tunnel as tolls are paid and  collected from car owners.”