Ministerial Consultations
Navigate Up
Sign In

Ministerial Consultations



Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy


CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 09 December 2022

Closing date: 09 February 2023

Title of the public consultation: Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

 

Background

The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise has launched Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050 for public consultation.

The Strategy is an ambitious document that translates Malta’s Sustainable Development Vision for 2050 into a strategic policy direction for the environmental protection and socio-economic development of the Maltese Islands.

It follows the direction set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and seeks to stimulate and mainstream actions across all workings of Government and ensure that the objectives laid out by the United Nations and the Vision are reached in the most consistent and efficient manner possible.

This Strategic Document sets out five Strategic Goals which outline how to effectively achieve the aim of the Strategy by 2050:

 


These Strategic Goals will be monitored through a defined set of targets that will be translated into concrete actions in the next phase of the Strategy, which will be Malta’s Sustainable Development Action Plan for 2030.
 
 
 

The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise is inviting the general public to present suggestions and submit written comments on Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2050.

Link to Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategy for 2050 pdf file​

Feedback should be received through the following channels by Thursday, 9th February 2023.

E-mail: sustainabledevelopment@gov.mt and / or

Post:

Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

Sustainable Development Directorate

6, Qormi Road,

Santa Venera,

Malta



Review of the Guidelines on Works involving Trees


CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 14 October 2022

Closing date: 11 November 2022

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Review of the Guidelines on Works involving Trees

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority

 

1. Background

The Guidelines on Works involving Trees were issued in 2019 with the intent on providing clear details on best practices for various interventions on trees, primarily, pruning, transplanting and compensatory planting. The Guidelines represent a comprehensive document with information to prospective applicants, architects, consultants and the wider public on a number of items related to trees including:

1. Which trees are protected and under what circumstances is a permit needed;

2. How to apply for a permit;

3. How to carry out sensitive pruning works;

4. How to carry out sensitive transplanting;

5. Principles of compensatory planting, as an update to the Guidelines on Trees, Shrubs and Plants on Planting and Landscaping in the Maltese Islands (EMU 2002);

6. How to avoid damage to trees due to construction; and

7. Becoming a Licensed Tree Specialist.

 

2. Consultation

Intent and Objectives

ERA is proposing to review various sections of the Guidelines on Works involving Trees. Amendments to the following sections of the Guidelines are being proposed:

1. How to apply for a permit;

2. Good practices in pruning, transplanting;

3. Compensation to include further scenarios and ratios; and

4. Any other sections requiring update.

Consultation Questions

The Authority wishes to receive feedback on the above intent and objectives, as well as any other related issues linked with these aspects you feel as duly relevant or of attention.

 

3. Submission of feedback

Comments will be received by email on era.policy@era.org.mt by 11 November 2022.


4. Further notes:

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft amendments to the guidelines will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy



 

 

National Action Plan concerning Marine Species Introduction and Invasive Marine Species in Malta


CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 7 October 2022

Closing date: 4 November 2022

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: National Action Plan concerning Marine Species Introduction and Invasive Marine Species in Malta

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority


1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is elaborating a ‘National Action Plan concerning marine species introduction and invasive species in Malta’ within the framework of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD Protocol) of the Barcelona Convention. This will be in collaboration with a national expert commissioned by the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC).

The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), also known as alien species, is considered a major driver of native biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems, challenging the conservation of marine biodiversity and natural resources. Alien marine species may become invasive and substantially change community structure, modify habitats and affect foodweb properties and ecosystem processes. NIS can also be associated with impacts on human health and economic sectors.

Therefore, it is imperative to take immediate steps to prevent the introduction of alien species, control the spread of those already introduced and endeavour to mitigate the damage they cause to the marine ecosystem, including through national actions as well as regional and international cooperation.

The development of a National Action Plan addressing NIS is in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Action Plan concerning Species Introductions and Invasive Species in the Mediterranean Sea (UNEP/MAP 2017) under the Barcelona Convention. This invites Mediterranean countries to adopt National Plans for the prevention of the introduction of new alien marine species by controlling their pathways, and to mitigate their negative impact. It shall also respond to and feed into other policy processes, including those pertaining to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) and the EU Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014), as well as the recently adopted National Strategy for Preventing and Mitigating the Impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in the Maltese Islands, together with the accompanying National Codes of Good Practice, and the national Action Plan Addressing Escape From Confinement of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of Union Concern (Pets, Aquaria and Terrarium species).

 

2. Consultation

Intent and Objectives

The intent of the proposed National Action Plan is to serve as a national policy driver for the prevention of the introduction of new alien marine species by controlling their pathways, and to mitigate their negative impact. The main objectives of the proposed National Action Plan are:

1. to encourage all necessary actions aimed at improving the available knowledge with respect to non-indigenous species (NIS) in Maltese marine waters;

2. to establish monitoring processes that enable continuous assessment of NIS and their impacts on the marine environment;

3. to coordinate the actions necessary for the regular provision of essential information for national and Mediterranean-wide reference lists of alien species, databases and online platforms;

4. to support coordinated efforts for management of NIS throughout the Mediterranean region and encourage the implementation of scientifically-backed regionally-harmonised measures of prevention and control of NIS introduction in particular for the high risk pathways of NIS;

5. to develop training and raising awareness programmes for prevention and mitigation of impacts.

 

The following questions are being asked as part of this consultation:

1. Do you agree with the proposed intent and objectives of this National Action Plan?

2. Can the objectives be further refined, keeping in mind the intent and scope of this National Action Plan?

3. Do you have any further feedback or comments on the intent or objectives of this National Action Plan?


3. Submission of feedback

E-mail: era.policy@era.org.mt

 

4. Further notes:

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft National Action Plan concerning marine species introduction and marine invasive species in Malta will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/




Malta Yelkouan Shearwater Species Action Plan 2022-2030


CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 3 October 2022

Closing date: 31 October 2022

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Malta Yelkouan Shearwater Species Action Plan 2022-2030

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority

 

1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is preparing the ‘Malta Yelkouan Shearwater Species Action Plan 2022-2030’.

The Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is a seabird species endemic to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Maltese Islands are home to around 10% of the global breeding population of the Yelkouan Shearwater with an estimated population of 1,795–2,635 breeding pairs. This population is threatened by numerous pressures linked to anthropogenic activities including by-catch, rat predation, habitat loss and disturbance from light and noise arising from both maritime and land-based activities.

Management processes for the protection of this species should be established on the basis of all relevant policies, including the EU Birds Directive, the EU Birds Directive, the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean, and the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44).

The development of this Action Plan would build on the long-term Action Plan for the conservation of the Maltese Yelkouan Shearwater population, as developed through the LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija - LIFE14 NAT/MT/991 (2015-2020), in order to adopt a National Action Plan for the protection of this species and possibly extend such to cover all three breeding seabirds in Malta.

In this regard, the aim is to adopt such an action plan, for a management regime for the protection of the Yelkouan Shearwater that goes beyond site-specific objectives and conservation measures within protected areas, in order to provide holistic protection of this species which is susceptible to wide-ranging pressures.

 

2. Consultation

Intent

The main intent of the Yelkouan Shearwater Species Action Plan 2022-2030 is to lay down a way forward for the conservation and the improvement of status of the species’ local populations. The plan will be set for the achievement of the following objectives:

1. to sustain or increase the species’ reproductive success;

2. to increase the species adult survival rate;

3. to reduce fledgling light-induced groundings;

4. to sustain the current extent of the breeding range;

5. to improve the availability and the quality of the species’ breeding habitat;

6. to implement identified conservation measures for the Yelkouan Shearwater and evaluate their effectiveness within Natura 2000 sites.

The achievement of such objectives will be sought through management of anthropogenic activity that may result in pressures including inter alia rat predation, light disturbance and noise disturbance.

The following questions are being asked as part of this consultation:

1. Do you agree with the proposed intent and objectives of this action plan?

2. Can the objectives be further refined, or should additional objectives/actions be considered?

3. Do you have any further feedback or comments on the intent or objectives of this action plan?

 

3. Submission of feedback

E-mail: era.policy@era.org.mt

 

4. Further notes:

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft Malta Yelkouan Shearwater Species Action Plan 2022 – 2030 will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/

 ​


National Strategy for the Environment 2050


CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 7 September 2022

Closing date: 21 October 2022

Title of the public consultation: Public Consultation: National Strategy for the Environment 2050

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority (ERA)

1. Background

A healthy environment is both our duty and our right, and it is each and everyone’s moral and legal obligation to contribute towards a sustainable future. Choosing the path and setting the pace for protecting and managing our environment from now till the next generation is critical for a future which includes our common goods. This is what the National Strategy for the Environment (NSE) will strive to achieve.

The NSE, which is mandated by Article 45 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), translates the previously published Wellbeing First Vision for 2050 into a strategic policy direction for our environment by setting out long-term Strategic Goals and Objectives that outline how this is going to be done. The NSE is underpinned by the recognition that the environment supports the existence of society, which in turn creates economic activity to sustain itself, and one cannot function successfully without the other.

The NSE has been built on eight Strategic Goals, which address traditional environmental facets complemented with pillars which focus on key environmental challenges which our country faces, whilst also laying down the roadmap to enable and empower changes that are needed in order to support an environmental transformation over a generation. The eight Strategic Goals are related to Clean Air, Quality Neighbourhood, Thriving Biodiversity, Zero Waste, Resilient Land Resources, Flourishing Seas, Sustainable Water Resources and Enabling Change.

2. Consultation

ERA is inviting the public and interested stakeholders to provide their feedback on the draft National Strategy for the Environment 2050. The following consultation questions are being provided to guide the consultation:

1. Do you think that the proposed Strategic Goals and Objectives adequately provide the environmental direction which is required in the coming 30 years?

2. What strategic actions, besides those already mentioned under the respective Strategic Objectives, do you feel should be included?

3. Action Plans will be developed to turn the Strategy into reality, each covering roughly a 10-year period until 2050. What actions should the first NSE Action Plan prioritise till 2030?


3. Documents

National Strategy for the Environment 2050 – Public Consultation Draft

National Strategy for the Environment 2050 – Public Consultation Draft – Executive Summary

Relevant background documents and information


4. Submission of feedback

Comments will be received by email on nse@era.org.mt by 21st October 2022.


5. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.​​