The party, led by Sandra Gauci, held a press conference in front of the Ministry of Environment to deliver its 10 proposals aimed at tackling major national issues engulfing the island right now.

To substantiate the proposals, Gauci analysed the current energy issue and explained how “corruption within the energy sector has led to expenditure on a power station and abandonment of the electricity distribution network”.

“When it comes to the power cuts, the issue is that we use more energy when it’s hot. There has been an increase of footprint in a plot, from one household to 20 flats due to laissez-faire planning rules.”

This may mean that there are twenty times more currents are being supplied from the same infrastructure (cables) that were previously used for much less.

“It is the addition of thousands of flats on land that has been available since the 2006 plans that is a contributing factor to the power cuts.”

Hence, the party proposed:

• A smart grid; a stronger electricity distribution system will help to make the leap to renewable energy better.
• A moratorium on big developments. The construction industry needs to be re-dimensioned to focus on the modernisation and renovation of buildings, not new builds.
• Renovated buildings need to be zero-carbon, this means they generate all the energy that they need. In time all buildings in Malta need to be modernised to become zero-carbon buildings.
• Make energy cooperatives a part of the energy plan. These cooperatives will provide for decentralised electricity sources from renewable energy.

Alternatively, some of the proposals seek to fix the growing issues of cheap labour and poor quality of life.

“The government’s economic policy currently seeks to gain as much as possible from the most vulnerable in society, including the added workers required to keep up with the demand for unbridled development.”

“The government was happy to have cheap labour, but did not plan to adequately meet everyone’s needs.”

Hence, the party suggested to: 

• Shift Malta to a wellbeing economy, one that is not based on the excessive use of natural resources, the exploitation of people, and dependence on imported energy. A Wellbeing Economy is one designed to serve people and the planet, not the other way around. In such an economic structure, the rules, norms and incentives are set up to deliver quality of life and flourishing for all people, in harmony with our environment, by default.

Finally, the proposals aim to address the wider and symptomatic issue of climate change.

“One government after another has failed to prepare for the effects of this crisis. There are no excuses, the Labour Government have had ten years to act, and instead they have simply ignored the crisis at hand to focus on their own economic gains.”

So, ADPD proposed to:

• Reverse the 2006 rationalisation plan! We need to hasten our pace towards zero-carbon communities and revise the local plans to meet sustainability and zero-carbon targets.
• Make research on renewable energy and zero carbon a national priority. This is in view of the climate crisis.
• Stop investing in fossil fuel infrastructure. This on both a national and EU level. This includes stopping the gas pipeline project and investing in sustainable alternatives.
• Oblige industries to move towards zero carbon operations.
• Lead by example! Public buildings need to be modernised, zero-carbon, by generating all the electricity they need.

The party’s deputy chairperson further encourage the public to sign a petition with ADPD’s 10 concrete actions which will be delivered to Minister Miriam Dalli.

Opposition leader Bernard Grech has also come out with a strong statement telling Prime Minister Robert Abela to get out of holiday mode and declare a national emergency. 

Malta is knee-deep in a scorching heatwave that has been intensified by widespread and prolonged power outages highlighting the dire need for an expensive change in the country’s electrical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the government continues to downplay the crisis which has led to the death of at least four people, hit the national hospital, and disrupted the electricity of a nine-month pregnant woman for six consecutive days.

This has further lead to a public outcry founded in concern over the state’s priorities and disillusionment by the political response – such as Social Wellbeing Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli telling overheated citizens to read a book.

Moreover, the energy and “constitutional” crises are indicating somewhat of a breakdown in Malta’s government giving alternative parties like ADPD and the Nationalist Party the opportunity to reinstate hope in the nation.

Let’s hope that this situation is used wisely by non-labour politicians to develop strategic proposals that can relieve the island from the multitude of issues, rather than spin party discourse into yet another blame-game.

What do you think of ADPD’s proposals?