‘A step forward upon which countries must continue building on future COPs’ – Minister Miriam Dalli
The final agreement reached in Dubai for COP28 speaks, for the first time, about transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Minister for Environment, Energy, and Enterprise Miriam Dalli who was part of the negotiations on behalf of the European Union, stated that although this agreement is not the final solution to climate change, it signifies the first time all countries have agreed that dependence on fossil fuels must end.
“From the beginning, it became clear that it is not easy for all countries, with their different realities, to agree on the removal of fossil fuels,” Minister Dalli said. “There are countries that are still developing and others that are developed, using completely different energy sources. But from the very beginning, Malta, together with the other countries of the European Union and even the small states, always insisted that we could not exceed an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius in temperatures.”
In the agreement reached in Dubai, countries are asked to begin transitioning away from fossil fuels to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2050. For an agreement to be reached, negotiations intensified in the last hours, with moments of fear that everything could fall apart.
“There are still more things that need to be addressed,” asserted Minister Miriam Dalli, “but I believe that the historic agreement reached at COP28 can continue to be strengthened in the future COPs. The fact that countries are agreeing that fossil fuels must end means that every country must start making the necessary changes in a short time.”
Regarding the adaptation file – on which Minister Miriam Dalli was negotiating together with Austrian Minister Leonore Gewessler, on behalf of the European Union – an agreement was reached to double the current aid to the least developed countries to adapt to climate change.
“This commitment sends a clear signal that there is an awareness that the most vulnerable countries cannot be left alone. Although this amount will certainly have to increase in the future, the signal being sent is strong, and we must continue to build on it,” said Minister Dalli.
The COP28 agreement is a significant milestone because it is the first time that a global goal for climate adaptation has been agreed upon. Among other things, this agreement includes a biennial program that considers progress in areas such as water scarcity, food production, health, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure, poverty, and culture.
Among the international leaders who attended the opening of COP28 was also the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, who supported Malta’s position in favour of an ambitious agreement. For the first time, Malta was involved in negotiations on behalf of the European Union through Minister Miriam Dalli, with the support of the Maltese technical team and the Ambassador for Climate Change, Professor Simone Borg.
Għall-ewwel darba fl-istorja, il-pajjiżi tad-dinja jaqblu li jridu jibdew tranżizzjoni biex jeħilsu mill-fossil fuels
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli tgħid li dan il-ftehim huwa pass ‘il quddiem li l-pajjiżi jridu jkomplu jibnu fuqu f’COPs futuri
Il-ftehim finali milħuq f’Dubai għall-COP28 jitkellem għall-ewwel darba dwar tranżizzjoni lil hinn mill-fossil fuels.
Miriam Dalli, il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża, li kienet parti min-negozjati f’isem l-Unjoni Ewropea, qalet li għalkemm dan il-ftehim mhux is-soluzzjoni finali għat-tibdil fil-klima, madanakollu għall-ewwel darba l-pajjiżi kollha qablu li d-dipendenza fuq il-fossil fuels trid tispiċċa.
“Sa mill-bidu deher ċar li mhux faċli li l-pajjiżi kollha bir-realtajiet differenti tagħhom jaqblu fuq it-tneħħija tal-fossil fuels,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli. “Hemm pajjiżi li għadhom qed jiżviluppaw u oħrajn li huma żviluppati li jużaw sorsi ta’ enerġija għal kollox differenti minn xulxin. Però mill-bidu nett Malta, flimkien mal-pajjiżi l-oħra tal-Unjoni Ewropea, u anke l-istati ż-żgħar, dejjem insistiet li ma stajniex immorru lil hinn miż-żieda ta’ 1.5 gradi Celsius fit-temperaturi.”
Fil-ftehim milħuq f’Dubai, il-pajjiżi qed jintalbu jibdew bit-tranżizzjoni lil hinn mill-fossil fuels biex jilħqu emissjonijiet net żero sas-sena 2050. Biex intlaħaq dan il-ftehim kien hemm diversi negozjati li intensifikaw fl-aħħar sigħat u f’ħinijiet minnhom kien hemm anke l-biża’ li jista’ jisfaxxa kollox.
“Hemm aktar affarijiet li għad iridu jiġu indirizzati,” sostniet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli, “Imma nemmen li l-ftehim storiku milħuq fil-COP28 jista’ jkompli jiġi msaħħaħ fil-COPs tas-snin futuri. Biss biss, il-fatt li l-pajjiżi qed jaqblu li l-fossil fuels iridu jispiċċaw ifisser li kull pajjiż irid jibda jagħmel il-bidliet neċessarji f’qasir żmien.”
Fuq il-file tal-adattament, li fuqu l-Ministru Miriam Dalli kienet qed tinnegozja flimkien mal-Ministru tal-Awstrija Leonore Gewessler f’isem l-Unjoni Ewropea, intlaħaq qbil biex l-għajnuna għall-pajjiżi l-inqas żviluppati biex ikunu jistgħu jadattaw għat-tibdil fil-klima, tirdoppja minn dik li tingħata llum.
“Dan l-impenn jagħti sinjal ċar li hemm l-għarfien li l-pajjiżi l-aktar vulnerabbli ma jistgħux jitħallew waħedhom. Għalkemm dan l-ammont żgur li se jkollu jiżdied fil-futur, però s-sinjal li qed jingħata huwa sinjal b’saħħtu li rridu nkomplu nibnu fuqu,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Din kienet l-ewwel darba li ntlaħaq qbil fuq mira globali għall-adattament għall-klima, li fost l-oħrajn jinkludi wkoll programm ta’ kull sentejn li jieħu kont tal-progress li jkun sar fl-oqsma tal-iskarsezza tal-ilma, il-produzzjoni tal-ikel, is-saħħa, l-ekosistemi u l-bijodiversità, l-infrastruttura, il-faqar u l-kultura.
Fost il-mexxejja internazzjonali li attendew għall-ftuħ tal-COP28, kien hemm ukoll il-Prim Ministru Malti Robert Abela li sostna l-pożizzjoni ta’ Malta favur ftehim ambizzjuż. Għall-ewwel darba Malta kienet involuta fin-negozjati f’isem l-Unjoni Ewropea permezz tal-Ministru Miriam Dalli, bl-appoġġ tat-tim tekniku Malti u l-Ambaxxatriċi għat-Tibdil fil-Klima, il-Profs. Simone Borg.