Written by Tim Grech
Climate change is affecting us
Summers in Malta are becoming increasingly intense and increasingly unbearable. With more frequent heatwaves and higher temperatures, the effects of climate change are being especially at the heart of the Mediterranean.
This is not just a perception, with international studies showing that after the Arctic, the Mediterranean basin is heating at the fastest rate globally. With a limited groundwater supply and equally limited tree cover and vegetation, Malta is not doing as much as it should be doing in curbing the effects of climate change on a national level.
And people were noticing. Last summer saw an appetite for environmentalism in Malta from which Extinction Rebellion Malta was born. We are part of a global movement to make our voice heard on important issues that affect each one of us in Malta.
It isn’t controversial to say that Malta did not have the best environmental credentials in the world. Instead of mitigating the effects of climate change, the policy seemed to have been going in the opposite direction.
Until today.
Change is happening
Last week, the Maltese Parliament declared a climate emergency. Our country became one of the first nations to take this important step. This is a great victory for Extinction Rebellion Malta, and we would like to thank every single person and organisation who played a role in securing this result.
Not only would we like to thank KSU and KNZ, but also every single person who has followed and engaged with XR Malta.
Does that mean the war is won? Not at all.
There is still lots to be done. The climate emergency is the end of an attitude of complacency and apathy.
It is also the beginning of an important dialogue that you are invited to be a part of.
By passing this Bill, our politicians have sent a message that they are willing to speak with us, the stakeholders of the future. XR Malta has already reached out to Members from both sides of the House, and we are already setting up meetings with Members of Parliament.
Join the rebellion
This is a fantastic opportunity for anybody passionate about the environment to get involved in a proactive conversation with our decision-makers for the good of our country and the good of our planet.
Everyone is welcome. As a strictly non-partisan movement, we are open to working with everyone in a space free of party politics Malta is known for. Climate has no colour, nor does science, especially when science is telling us that we need to act now. We believe that the climate is more important than any of that – we hope you do, too.
So, what can you do to help out within our cause? There are lots of individual choices that you can make in your day-to-day life to lessen your carbon footprint. However, the changes that matter the most need to come from the people with power. Now, this is within reach.
Next Friday, XR Malta will be holding a #FridaysForFuture event at the University Quadrangle at 12 o’clock noon. If you want to be part of a movement for the planet, we’ll see you there.