New authority says it is prioritising the National Climate Adaptation Strategy
Meetings to be held with civil society
The newly set up Climate Action Authority (CAA) said on Wednesday that it is prioritising the development of a National Climate Adaptation Strategy, a day after the Ombudsman found gaps in the planning made so far.
In a report presented to parliament, the ombudsman found poor planning and assignment of responsibilities for climate change adaptation and noted that government assessments on the risk of flooding as a result of climate change were outdated because they were based on 2011 population figures.
The CAA said the plan it is drawing up "will be essential for preparing Malta for the increasing impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, more frequent heatwaves, and shifting weather patterns, particularly in the most affected sectors."
The authority said it was among the first to start developing the climate adaptation plan, even before the announcement of a new European framework.
The plan will be developed in broad consultation with all stakeholders.
Interministerial discussions have already begun with climate action coordinators and permanent secretaries, the authority said, and meetings will be held shortly with social partners and civil society.
"The fact that a risk and vulnerability report has already been produced to serve as a basis, places our country at the forefront in designing this type of strategy," said the Authority's CEO, Abigail Cutajar.
Regarding the particularly serious challenge of rising sea levels, the CAA is also leading regional initiatives to create synergies among Mediterranean countries. Later this year, Malta will host a special conference on this subject, bringing together countries and key leaders in the region to reach a common agreement for collective efforts in the Mediterranean to adapt to sea level rise, she added.