The second national communication of Malta to the United Nations framework convention on climate change

Abstract

The First National Communication was presented to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC in April 2004, on the eve of Malta’s accession to the European Union. As predicted this was a step that transformed Malta’s political future. Malta has since its accession worked hard with its partners in the Union to develop policies that are ambitious enough to match the severity of the climate challenges we face. Notwithstanding our inherent limitations, Malta has always supported initiatives aimed at minimizing the impacts of Climate Change. As far back as 1988, Malta recognised the importance of dealing with climate as a global issue as apparent in its efforts to place the issue of Climate Change on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. The importance that Malta attributes to Climate Change is evident even today in the support that Malta gives to both EU and other international Climate Change initiatives. While all too conscious of the difficulties it will face in reaching the various EU targets, Malta fully supported the so‐called EU Climate and Energy package agreed on last December. We have done so because we understand the need for immediate drastic action to salvage not only our future but the future of the next generations. Moreover, during the UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties (COP) 14, which was held in December 2008 in Poznan, Poland, I had the honour of announcing Malta’s intention to join Annex I to the UNFCCC. To this effect, Malta has submitted a formal proposal to amend Annex I for consideration and action at the COP 15 in Copenhagen, December 2009. The rationale behind this action is sui generis. Malta does not seek to differentiate itself from others. Rather, Malta seeks to put itself on the same legal footing as its fellow Member states in a collective and responsible commitment to continue reducing emissions of greenhouse gases after 2012. This Government is aware of the challenges our country faces and has embarked on a variety of projects and initiatives that are all aimed at preparing our country as best as possible to meet and satisfy its various international obligations whether at EU and UN level. The ‘National Strategy for Policy and Abatement Measures relating to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ was recently finalized and delineates a number of mitigation measures to be embarked or continued upon. The Government has moreover recently appointed a new Climate Change Committee to draw up a National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change. As in the case of the First Communication, formal responsibility for the preparation of this Communication was vested in the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. My gratitude goes to the University of Malta and in particular Professor Charles Sammut (Project Manager) and Professor Alfred Micallef (National Expert) for their invaluable work and the various actors and stakeholders involved in the consultations. Once again the Government of Malta thanks the Global Environment Facility for contributing towards the preparation of its second Communication. The preparation of the First National Communication eventually led to the setting up of permanent structures aimed at monitoring and assessing greenhouse gas emissions and which have proved indispensable in shaping national climate change policies. I believe that the present Communication will likewise prove beneficial in providing the necessary impetus in strengthening Malta’s climate change policies.