Timesofmalta.com reports that cleaner air quality, zero waste, thriving biodiversity, flourishing seas – these are among the goals Malta has to reach by 2050 according to the National Strategy for the Environment 2050 launched for public consultation on Wednesday.
The strategy builds on eight strategic goals, which tackle traditional environmental facets while focusing on key environmental challenges. It lays down the roadmap to enable and empower the changes needed to support an environmental transformation over a generation.
More information about the strategy consultation may be found at https://era.org.mt/era-topic-categories/national-strategy-for-the-environment/. The main document has been provided as well at the end of this post, and we saved an extract as well of just the Marine Part if you’re not interested in the whole of the document.
The public can participate by sending their feedback here by October 21.
Of special interest to divers was the following part of the article:
Flourishing seas
Why? 76.3% of citizens are highly concerned about marine issues, specifically water pollution, likely reflecting the importance of the sea for national leisure and recreation. As an island state with a marine area much larger than the land area, the marine environment is of high national importance, and it is in the best interest of everyone that the sea is safeguarded. Apart from its environmental importance, the ecosystem services provided by the marine environment area is a significant contributor to Malta’s economy, due to sectors it supports such as tourism, shipping, fisheries and energy and water production. Furthermore, maritime culture is fundamental to the Maltese identity.
How? Coastal and marine waters will be in a good environmental and ecological status. Marine ecosystems will be fully functional in terms of healthy food webs that ensure the long-term abundance of marine biodiversity.
timesofmalta.com article
