Is the new environment strategy just a load of empty words?

Malta’s environmental lobby groups have expressed strong scepticism over the National Strategy for the Environment, launched last week.
The draft document issued by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) establishes the aims of achieving cleaner air quality, zero waste, thriving biodiversity and flourishing seas by 2050.
But ENGOs and activists say the lack of legal weight attached to strategic documents and the government’s track record of shelving similar documents does not bode well for the new strategy.

This sentiment is expressed by ERA chairman Victor Axiak himself in the document, who says it “may prove to be just a worthless eyewash paper exercise if it lacks the necessary commitment and drive to turn it into action”.
The document is open for consultation until October 21 and several organisations are working to provide an adequate response by that time.
Plans to form a united front within the environmentalist lobby are also being considered. Times of Malta spoke to five activists who gave their initial reactions.
Can kicked down the road
“2050 is conveniently far away to keep kicking the necessary-action-can down the road,” Jean Paul Gauci, from Moviment...