English Version :
Data collected through Malta’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) portal is showing that Maltese companies who are incorporating ESG Criteria in their business model are not only contributing to the fight against climate change but are also reaping financial benefits. This data shows that companies investing in ESG Criteria have registered a 31% decrease in water consumption, 9% decrease in waste generation and 8% less in CO2 emissions.
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli announced this data whilst delivering a keynote speech during the ‘Climate Resilient Tourism in the Mediterranean’ conference during COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. This conference focused on climate change initiatives in the Mediterranean.
The Energy and Water Agency, together with the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean and the Union for the Mediterranean, co-hosted this conference with the support of Professor Simone Borg, Ambassador for Climate Action. The speakers presented solutions to support the private sector, particularly the tourism sector, to become more climate resilient and sustainable by focusing on the direct link between water and energy.
With temperatures rising 20% above the global average, the Mediterranean region is strongly feeling the effects of climate change. As a major economic contributor, the tourism sector inevitably causes pressure on any country’s infrastructure, including its energy and water resources.
“The private sector, including the tourism sector, has great potential to continue developing into an environmentally and economically sustainable sector. The business sector is an extremely important partner in our transition towards a climate neutral economy by 2050. Hence, why the government is supporting businesses who are becoming more environmentally sustainable. Likewise, we want to continue supporting research and innovation and allow innovative ideas to flourish and grow,” Minister Dalli said.
Minister Dalli emphasised that it pays to do good for the environment; “With solutions that can increase energy efficiency, water efficiency and waste reduction, and innovative actions help businesses maintain profitability whilst doing good. Malta is providing incentives to those companies investing to ensure sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint. Pushing forward ESG Criteria to be included in board decisions can and will take us a long way.”
The Energy and Water Agency explained how a pilot project it launched targeting guesthouses seeks to provide support in energy and water management. The assessment will help identify improvement opportunities.
On the margins of COP27, whereby countries come together to take action towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals, Minister Dalli also held a number of bilateral meetings with Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek el Molla, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam.
“Egypt and Malta share many similar realities when it comes to climate adaptation. Renewable energy systems, greener sources of energy and battery technology are areas of interest for both sides, and we look forward to further cooperation on this,” stated Minister Miriam Dalli.
The Minister also held a bilateral meeting with Chris Bowen, the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy.
Maltese Version
Investiment fl-ESG hija l-għodda għall–ġlieda kontra t-tibdil fil-klima – il-Ministru Miriam Dalli f’COP27
Tagħrif miġbur mill-Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Portal ta’ Malta juru li kumpaniji Maltin li qed jinkludu kriterji tal-ESG fil-mudell kummerċjali tagħhom mhux biss qed jibbenefikaw finanzjarjament, iżda qed jikkontribwixxu wkoll fil-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil fil-klima. Din l-istatistika turi kif kumpaniji li qed jinvestu fi kriterji tal-ESG irreġistraw tnaqqis ta’ 31% fil-konsum tal-ilma, tnaqqis ta’ 9% fil-ġenerazzjoni tal-ilma u tnaqqis ta’ 8% fl-emissjonijiet tad-diossidju tal-karbonju (CO2).
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli ħabbret dan fid-diskors tagħha matul il- konferenza ‘Climate Resilient Tourism in the Mediterranean’ waqt il-COP27, f’Sharm El Sheikh, l-Eġittu. Din il-konferenza ffukat fuq inizjattivi fil-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil tal-klima fil-Mediterran.
L-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma, flimkien ma’ Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean u l-Unjoni għall- Mediterran, ospitaw din il-konferenza bl-appoġġ tal-Ambaxxatriċi għall-Azzjoni tal-Klima, il-Professur Simone Borg. F’din il-konferenza, il-kelliema ppreżentaw soluzzjonijiet biex jgħinu lis-settur privat, b’mod partikolari s- settur turistiku, biex ikun aktar reżiljenti u sostenibbli b’enfasi fuq ir-rabta bejn l-enerġija u l-ilma.
B’temperaturi li qed jiżdiedu b’20% aktar mill-medja globali, ir-reġjun tal-Mediterran qed ibati mill-konsegwenzi tat-tibdil fil-klima. Is-settur tat-turiżmu, wieħed mill-kontributuri ewlenin tal-ekonomija, jikkawża pressjoni fuq l-infrastruttura ta’ kwalunkwe pajjiż, fost oħrajn fuq ir-riżorsi tal-enerġija u l-ilma.
“Is-settur privat, inkluż is-settur tat-turiżmu, għandu l-potenzjal li jkompli jiżviluppa biex isir aktar ambjentalment u ekonomikament sostenibbli. Is-settur tan-negozju huwa sieħeb importanti fil-bidla lejn ekonomija li ma tniġġisx sal-2050. U għalhekk il-gvern qed jappoġġja lin-negozji biex isiru aktar ambjentalment sostenibbli. Bl-istess mod, irridu nkomplu nikkontribwixxu fir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni, filwaqt li nħallu l-ideat innovattivi jikbru u jiffjorixxu,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Ministru Dalli enfasizzat fuq kif azzjonijiet favur l-ambjent iroddu l-frott; “B’soluzzjonijiet li jżidu l-effiċjenza fl-enerġija, fl-ilma u fit-tnaqqis fl-iskart, u azzjonijiet innovattivi jgħinu lin-negozji jsostnu l-profitabilità filwaqt li jagħmlu l-ġid. Bħala pajjiż, Malta qed inkomplu ninċentivaw lil dawn il-kumpaniji li qed jinvestu fis- sostenibbiltà u li qed inaqqsu l-karbonju. Il-ħidma biex immexxu ’l quddiem il-kriterji tal-ESG sabiex ikunu kkunsidrati fit-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet jistgħu, u se jkomplu jmexxuna aktar ’il quddiem.”
L-Aġenzija għall-Enerġija u l-Ilma spjegat kif proġett pilota mmirat għall-guesthouses qed jipprovdi assistenza fl-immaniġġjar tal-enerġija u l-ilma. Ir-riżultat ta’ dan il-proġett se jgħin sabiex jiġu identifikati opportunitajiet għal aktar titjib.
Matul il-COP27, fejn qed jitlaqqgħu diversi pajjiżi biex tittieħed azzjoni biex jintlaħqu l-miri klimatiċi dinjija, il- Ministru Dalli kellha wkoll laqgħat bilaterali mal-Ministru tal-Petroleum u r-Riżorsi Minerali tal-Eġittu, Tarek el Molla, il-Ministru għall-Elettriku u l-Enerġija Rinnovabbli, Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, u l-Ministru għar- Riżorsi tal-Ilma u l-Irrigazzjoni, Hani Sewilam.
“L-Eġittu u Malta għandhom ħafna similaritajiet fejn tidħol l-adattament għall-klima. Is-sistemi t’enerġija rinnovabbli, sorsi aktar nodfa tal-enerġija u t-teknoloġija tal-batteriji huma suġġetti t’interess għaż-żewġ naħat, għalhekk inħarsu ’l quddiem għal aktar kooperazzjoni,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Il-Ministru Dalli attendiet ukoll għal-laqgħa bilaterali ma’ Chris Bowen, il-Ministru Awstraljan għat-Tibdil fil- Klima u l-Enerġija.