Climate change has always been one of mankind’s most polarizing topics since it carries so much social and even political baggage when discussed with people around the world. Luckily, the Maltese citizens have swiftly realized the dangers of climate change, the question is: did the government take notice as well?
Climate change: what is it?
climate change is a factual and durable change in weather patterns. Changes in mean weather conditions, range of weather conditions (e.g. higher maximum temperatures or lower minimum temperatures) and distribution (e.g. fewer but stronger rain showers) may be responsible. There are a lot of causes of climate change, including natural (geologic, oceanographic and atmospheric events like volcanic eruptions) and human-induced (anthropogenic) factors, the most relevant of which is human processes like burning fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases.
What’s the difference between climate change and global warming?
Both terms refer to closely related effects, and some people use them interchangeably. The cause of climate change is global warming. “Global warming” refers to the rising global temperatures, but “climate change” includes other kinds of changes too. A warmer world causes climate change that affects precipitation patterns, humidity, sea level, temperature patterns, and extreme weather.
Unusually warm Christmas weather in Malta
Last year, Malta had a warm Christmas break. The first rains passed in early January, and then it got warm again. It was also the warmest January in years for the rest of Europe. It’s been called the most extreme climate event in Europe’s history.
Climate change: how important is it to Maltese?
The Maltese are the most concerned about climate change of all European countries.
Eurobarometer did a survey about what Europeans care about in October. Climate change worries 93% of Maltese.
The results from the 2021-2022 Climate Survey show that 87% of Maltese believe that climate action would improve their quality of life and also create more jobs.
• 78% say that the green transition will be a source of economic growth.
• 35% expect to have to move to another region or country in the future because of climate change — this figure increases to 58% among people aged 20-29
Does the government care about climate change?
Ian Borg, Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke at a discussion panel as part of the Paris Peace Forum on behalf of the government and said that climate change will be Malta’s priority at the UN Security Council.
As a result of its 97% vote at the UN General Assembly in New York earlier this year, Malta will be on the UN Security Council next year As a non-permanent member of the council. Malta will serve a two-year term.
Our hope is that Malta will take advantage of its opportunities to fight climate change to the fullest. Malta just started a new plastic bottle recycling scheme but was later sharply criticized because the recycling machines were extremely inconvenient to use.
There is no point for initiatives that promote recycling while so many plastic bottles continue to be manufactured with no applicable solution.
It’s a good thing that the government is attempting to create an atmosphere where it claims to go greener, but the distance between populism and actions is very far, and right now it seems like Malta is on the other side.
