Speech by the Hon. Francis Zammit Dimech, Minister for the Environment, at the Seminar on Sustainable Development-Environmental Issues

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be here this morning to deliver the opening address at this seminar on Sustainable Development in the Environmental Sector which is being organised by the Islands and Small States Institute together with the Ministry for the Environment. This is not the first time, and I am sure will not be the last, that my Ministry and the Institute have joined forces to promote awareness on issues of both national and international importance.

Today's theme is no exception. Sustainable development is very high on the agenda of world governments and international institutions not least in the field of the environment. This is not surprising because sustainable development is concerned with long term welfare both at the national and global level and with the heritage we leave to future generations. A prudent use of the world's natural resources and the protection of the global eco-system are a condition for sustainable development with economic prosperity and a balanced social development.

However, although the international community is aware that action needs to be taken, words are not being translated into action.

For example, the holes in the ozone layer are growing, the greenhouse effect is changing our climate and threatening our very existence. Clean water may soon become a scarce resource. These are not doomsday fantasies. They are real threats to human kind.

A clean and healthy environment is part and parcel of the prosperity and the quality of life that we desire for ourselves now and for future generations. People demand that the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat is free of pollution; they want to live undisturbed by noise, and they want to enjoy the beauty of the countryside and unspoilt coastlines and unpolluted waters.

In order to achieve these objectives we need to encourage the development of a society where the cars we drive are clean, the wastes we produce are recycled or disposed of safely, the energy sources and technologies we use do not lead to global warming, the products we make do not disperse hazardous chemicals into the environment, our food and our bodies, and where our business, tourist, housing and agricultural activities are planned so as to protect our biodiversity, habitats and landscapes.

However, are we in Malta contributing towards sustainable development on this island of ours where land is at a premium, national resources are scarce, biodiversity is threatened and climate is changing? Nowadays there is definitely greater awareness among the Maltese people about environmental issues. There is still a long way to go and much to be achieved. However, progress has been made and initiatives are being taken towards sustainable development in a number of areas.

Existing Environmental legislation is being improved. A new Environmental Protection Act has been prepared and is being vetted by the Attorney General. This will be an enabling act and will make it possible, through subsidiary legislation, to regulate environmental issues which are excluded under the present regime. Mandatory environment impact assessments with regards to development projects are another tool towards achieving sustainable development. Air quality is being monitored through a number of initiatives by the Air Monitoring Unit.

By 2005 all sewage effluent will be treated before being discharged into the aquatic environment on completion of three new waste water treatment plants. Solid waste will no longer continue to be dumped in an uncontrolled manner but will be managed in a sustainable way in line with the Waste Management Strategy which is being developed by foreign consultants.

Incidentally, today happens to be the closing date for the submission of proposals for the management of solid waste. Low sulphur diesel is now available on the market and fiscal incentives have been introduced in the last Budget to encourage the use of energy saving motor vehicles. The latest important development has been the setting up of the Malta Resources Authority whose functions include also the encouragement of alternative sources of energy and the sustainable use of resources.

Our responsibility does not stop at our frontiers. Environment knows no boundaries and we are in duty bound to contribute towards sustainable

development beyond our shores. In particular we should address our efforts towards sustainable development in the Mediterranean region especially the marine environment. We can do this in conjunction with other Mediterranean States through the Mediterranean Action Programme of UNEP .

Mediterranean littoral countries have a great impact on the marine environment and its biodiversity especially through pollution from industrial and domestic sources of rivers, coastal waters and seas. Other pressures come from ships that empty their oil tanks, ship accidents and heavy human utilisation of coastal areas. This has led to an increasing disturbance and pollution of our sea with negative effects on marine habitats and life. No one can deny that for example, there is a decline in fisheries. In order for fisheries to become sustainable there is the need to reduce pressure from fishing. However, protection of the marine environment and its biodiversity goes well beyond the sustainable exploitation of renewable marine resources and needs an integrated strategy to cope with the pollution and degradation of marine habitats and coastlines.

Through the Mediterranean Action Programme, Mediterranean countries can take concerted actions to identify and quantify these problems so that appropriate measures can be put in place to address the multiple pressures that come from human economic activities. New types of growth and development which take greater account of the social well-being of the entire population and of environmental concern need to be sought. Cooperation on the Mediterranean should have a common vision and coordination between the main partners especially the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention. In fact, within the framework of the Mediterranean Action Programme Mediterranean countries are currently defining a common position for the regions' future to prepare a Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development if possible for adoption at the Thirteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties in 2003.

Malta has been taking a very active part in the activities of MAP. I am at present the President of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties of MAP and during my tenure of office I have presided over a number of bureau meetings to implement the decisions of the Contracting Parties taken at the Malta meeting. Malta has also been chosen to host later on this year the Conference of the Plenipotentiaries to approve the new Protocol concerning cooperation in combating pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by oil and other harmful substances in case of emergency better known as the Emergency Protocol.

As I said earlier on there is still a lot to be done. Seminars like today's can play an important role and make valid contributions towards the management of our environment in a sustainable way. In your deliberations you are encouraged to identify the environmental issues which in your opinion have to be addressed if sustainable development is to come about. You should discuss the environmental objectives and targets that need to be met and propose how policy instruments should be formulated to tackle these issues, including the changes that are needed, for example, in the way energy is supplied, transport is provided, waste is produced, land is used, agriculture managed.

One important question is how to determine whether or not development in the environmental sector on these islands is in fact sustainable. Perhaps the answer is to have sustainable development indicators. In this regard I wish to propose that during today's exchanges you should discuss and try to develop and identify local indicators of sustainable development including economic, social as well as ecological indicators.

I see before me experts in various fields fully qualified and capable to take on this assignment. It is not expected that in just one day you will come up with specific figures but you can definitely make a start which could be followed up in similar exercises. I understand that your contributions will eventually be published in pamphlet form thanks to the support of the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme. I wish to take this opportunity to thank MAP for supporting today's activity.

The Institute of Small Island States could organise similar activities in respect of the various ideas that will emerge today to continue to be discussed at roundtable meetings or workshops for other interested groups. On my part, I wish to reiterate my Ministry's support for future initiatives similar to the one we are having today. Perhaps in a year's time we should meet again to report on what has been achieved and whether, we as a nation, are on the right track to achieve sustainable development especially in the environmental field.

I wish you success in your work. Thank you.