ADPD – The Green Party Deputy Chairperson and candidate on the 8th and 9th electoral district Mark Zerafa said that there was the need for the climate change challenge to be addressed. “This is a global emergency that Malta, in spite of its size, has its international obligation to reduce emissions so that the global temperature does not rise beyond 1.5°C. Our country is semi-arid and climate change induced desertification with catastrophic consequences on agriculture and our way of life. Moreover, many parts of the islands will become under water as sea rises,” Zerafa said.
“Our target to become carbon neutral at the earliest may only be achieved if we are committed to the use of renewal energy sources. Emissions need to be reduced by more than half the current levels by 2030 to achieve this target. Government’s indicated reduction of 19% is too low and reveals that it is not willing to take this climate issue seriously.”
“The need for a variety of sources of energy must be combined with an increased efficiency in energy use. Photo-voltaic panels should be installed on public buildings, factories and other commercial enterprises – we must make good use of all available spaces. Moreover, new buildings should be carbon neutral by generating all its energy requirements including the installation of solar water heating. It is also imperative that new high rises do not continue to be constructed to the detriment of solar panels installed on adjacent roof tops. Apartment owners should be assisted to install roof top panels in conjunction with the other owners. Wind turbines should be set up at sea while micro-turbines installed in industrial zones while wave energy should be researched. All organic waste may be converted into fuel. The energy obtained via the interconnector should be clean and from renewable sources. Our economy should be carbon neutral across the board – well established companies such as banks and insurers should lead the way by declaring how they are going to become carbon neutral by 2050. Any subsidies granted to business should be tied up to an obligation to reduce emissions.”
“While challenging these measures will also bring opportunities: for a more sustainable future; new types of employment; and a guaranteed continuous supply of energy that is not dependent on circumstances beyond our shores. Sanctions imposed on Russia may lead to fuel scarcity. Energy that is not dependent of the burning of fossil fuels will lead to the peace of mind we require in such circumstances,” concluded Zerafa.
ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson and candidate on the 4th and 9th district Carmel Cacopardo said that even from an energy security perspective it was important for Malta to have the largest amount of clean and renewable energy generated locally, with the rest obtainable from the EU grid.
Cacopardo referred to the discussion by the European Parliament on 8th March regarding energy EU dependencies and the official communication by the European Commission entitled ‘Common European Action for affordable, safe and sustainable energy’.
“Putin’s war has brought to the fore the urgent need for Europe to gain its energy independence. We are all affected by this war which has uncovered the fact that geo-political issues have a large negative impact. We express our utmost solidarity with the Ukrainian people that have found themselves in the middle of this destructive war. It is not secure and definitely not in the interest of EU peace for Malta to remain dependent on the whims of despotic and autocratic leaders through the Chinese-owned power station and the provision of gas from Azerbaijan. Moreover, energy obtained through the interconnector is generated from Russian gas (in Italy 40% of the gas is imported from Russia). ADPD joins the call by the Greens within European Parliament that the European Commission fast tracks its process towards a 100% renewable energy target. We must not waste any precious time,” insisted Cacopardo.
“Putin’s war is clearly showing us that the use of gas as a transitory fuel is obsolete and our insistence on its use is a huge mistake. Even nuclear energy has become more of a threat. The EU should base its economy on renewable energy. This is already becoming more achievable, as many studies have shown. We must act now before it is too late!” concluded Cacopardo.
***
Malta bla ħeġġa għall-enerġija rinovabbli, sikura , afordabbli u sostenibbli
“Hemm bżonn li l-isfida tat-tibdil fil-klima tingħata l-importanza li jistħoqqilha. Din hi emerġenza globali, u minkejja ċ-ċokon tagħna, pajjiżna għandu l-obbligi internazzjonali li jrażżan l-emissjonijiet sabiex it-temperatura globali ma tiżdiedx b’aktar minn 1.5°C. Pajjiżna huwa semi-aridu u t-tibdil fil-klima jista’ jikkawża desertifikazzjoni b’konsegwenzi katastrofiċi fuq il-biedja u l-ħajja tagħna. Diversi nħawi jistgħu jispiċċaw mgħerrqa hekk kif il-livell tal-baħar jogħla,” dan qalu d-Deputat Chairperson u kandidat ta’ ADPD – The Green Party fuq it-8 u d-9 distrett elettorali, Mark Zerafa, waqt konferenza stampal-Imsida.
“It-tir li pajjiżna jsir carbon neutral malajr kemm jista’ jkun jista’ jintlaħaq, ladarba ninpenjaw rwieħna li nagħmlu użu minn sorsi ta’ enerġija rinovabbli. Sabiex jintlaħaq dan il-għan, l-emissjonijiet iridu jonqsu b’aktar minn nofs sas-sena 2030. Il-miri tal-gvern ta’ 19% huma baxxi wisq u juru li l-gvern ma għandux ir-rieda li jieħu l-problema tal-klima bis-serjetà.”
“Hemm bżonn varjetà ta’ sorsi enerġetiċi, imma l-ewwelnett hemm bżonn rieda qawwija fl-effiċjenza fl-użu tal-enerġija. Pannelli foto-voltajċi għandhom installati fuq binjiet pubblici, fabbriki u bini kummerċjali ieħor – l-ispazji kollha għandhom jintużaw. Il-bini ġdid għandu jkun carbon neutral billi jiġġenera l-enerġija kollha li jeħtieġ inkluż bl-installazzjoni ta’ solar water heater. Hemm bżonn li ma nkomplux nibnu fil-għoli, għaliex dan jista’ jċaħħad lill-pannelli fuq il-bjut mid-dawl tax-xemx. Għandna ngħinu lil sidien ta’ appartamenti sabiex jinstallaw pannelli fuq il-bjut, flimkien ma’ sieden oħra ta’ appartamenti fl-istess binja. Hemm bżonn li jsir investiment f’turbini tar-riħ fuq wiċċ il-baħar filwaqt li ninstallaw mikro-turbini f’żoni industrijali. Hemm bżonn ukoll li ssir riċerka fuq enerġija mill-mewġ tal-baħar. Kull skart organiku għandu jiġi trattat biex jinbidel fi fuel. L-enerġija li nimportaw permezz tal-interconnector għandha tkun enerġija nadifa minn sorsi rinovabbli. L-ekonomija kollha tagħna għandha tkun carbon neutral u għaldaqstant banek u kumpaniji ta’ assikurazzjoni għandhom juru kif biħsiebhom u bil-fatti jsiru carbon neutral sas-sena 2050 filwaqt li kull sussidju li jingħata għandu jkun marbut ma’ obbligu li jitnaqssu l-emissjonijiet.”
“Filwaqt li dawn il-miżuri jġibu magħhom sfidi, ukoll joħolqulna opportunitajiet – ta’ futur aktar sostenibbli; ta’ impjiegi ġodda, kif ukoll joffru garanzija ta’ enerġija kontinwa li ma tiddependix fuq inċertezzi li jġibu magħhom ċirkostanzi lilhinn minn xtutna. Is-sanzjonijiet fuq ir-Russja jistgħu iwasslu għal skarsezza ta’ fuel. Enerġija li ma tiddependix fuq il-ħruq ta’ fuels fossili tagħtina s-serħan tal-moħħ li neħtieġu.”
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party u kandidat fuq ir-4 u d-9 distrett, Carmel Cacopardo qal li huwa importanti li jkollna l-akbar ammont ta’ enerġija, nadifa u rinovabbli, ġenerata lokalment, u l-bqija mill-gird tal-Unjoni Ewropea, anke minħabba s-sigurtà ta’ pajjina.
Carmel Cacopardo irrefera għad-diskussjoni fil-Parlament Ewropew tat-8 ta’ Marzu dwar l-indipendenza enerġetika tal-UE, u l-komunikazzjoni uffiċċjali tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea ‘Azzjoni Ewropea konġunta għal enerġija aktar affordabbli, sigura u sostenibbli’.
“Il-gwerra ta’ Putin turina kemm hi urġenti l-indipendenza Ewropea fl-enerġija. Aħna lkoll affettwati mill-gwerra, u l-gwerra ta’ Putin turi li kwestjonijiet geo-politiċi għandhom effett negattiv kbir. Ma nista ma nesprimix is-solidarjeta mal-poplu Ukren li spiċċa fin-nofs ta’ gwerra qerrieda. Mhux sigur, u mhux fl-interess tal-paċi li l-UE u Malta, permezz tal-power station taċ-Ċiniżi u l-gass tal-Ażerbajġan, iżda anke l-enerġija mill-interconnector iġġenerata minn gass Russu (40% tal-gass użat l-Italja huwa Russu) – jibqgħu dipendenti fuq mexxejja despotiċi u awtokratiċi. Ningħaqdu mal-appell tal-Ħodor fil-Parlament Ewropew u ninsistu l-i l-Kummissjoni Ewropea tgħaġġel il-proċess tal-bidla lejn enerġija mija fil-mija rinovabbli. Qed nitilfu ħin prezzjuż.”
“Il-gwerra ta’ Putin qed turi biċ-ċar li żmien il-gass bħala fuel ta’ tranżizzjoni għadda u l-insistenza fuq il-gass hija żball enormi. Anke l-periklu tan-nukleari issa huwa aktar u aktar ċar. L-UE għandha tibbaża l-ekonomija fuq enerġia rinovabbli. Studji juru li dan huwa u qed isir dejjem aktar possibbli. M’għandhiex ħin x’naħlu.”