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CIRCLE PROMOTION
and Waste Unit, mainly responsible for waste and air quality monitoring.
Their work is also linked very closely with the operational units of the
Authority, which include the Environmental Assessment arm – those in
direct contact with the Planning Authority to oversee the environmental
impact of development, and the Permitting, Compliance and
Enforcement Units. The Permitting Unit assesses the environmental
impacts of industrial operations for everything from waste disposal to
mandates for power stations to be able to operate, while the
Compliance and Enforcement Unit then ensures compliance with the
obligations arising from the Environment Protection Act - the piece of
legislation which set up the Authority and gave it and functions.
“From a strategic perspective, ERA reviews all national and EU
legislation to ensure that these have as little impact on the environment
as possible. While we’re living our lives enjoying modern amenities, we
also need to ensure that we are not destroying the environment we
need to live in in the first place; after all, we can’t use the environment
as a resource without protecting it,” Claire continues.
“We cannot do it alone. It’s the daily life of each and every citizen
that is having an impact on the environment and we constantly look for
the cooperation of citizens to ensure that the checks and balances put
in place continue to give us the quality of life we need and deserve.”
True to their word, ERA have set up a 24/7 contact number
(2292 3500) where environment-related emergencies, can be reported.
They have also created a website that continually keeps citizens up-todate
with the latest laws and rights – and, for everything else, they are
bound by law to answer all queries received (whether directly related
to their work or not) within 30 to 60 days depending on the
complexity of the situation.
As an entity, however, ERA is a regulator so it is not directly
responsible for clean-ups, planting of trees and the such. Nevertheless,
this hasn’t stopped it from giving many a helping hand.
“As part of our Corporate and Social Responsibility, we recently
helped out NGO #Żibel clean up the Lippija area, and we also went to
Comino this summer with barges and trucks to remove bulky waste
and alien plants that were affecting indigenous flora. For our first
anniversary, we planted 150 trees, too. Our belief is that, we are still
citizens of Malta, we still use its resources, we still live in this
environment, so it’s our job to help out in that too.”
ERA’s role, in fact, has truly made a difference over the past few
years. Today, an area 11 times the size of Malta's land is protected sea;
they have added 30 new areas (doubling the number to 60) of tree
protection areas; and they were also behind the landmark closing of
the Marsa Power Station and the permit given to the Delimara Power
Station.
Claire and the rest of the team at ERA are adamant to continue
to empower Malta’s citizens in protecting the environment.
Ultimately, however, it’s down to all of us to do our bit to help
safeguard the one thing that we cannot live without. The tools are
there. Will you participate?
Hexagon House, Spencer
Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441
Tel: (+356) 2292 3500
Email: info@era.org.mt
Website: era.org.mt
JANUARY 2018 ∫ Sunday Circle 41