Protecting the environment could create jobs, MEP tells EU environmental conference

MEP Miriam Dalli has highlighted the link between investing in protecting the environment and job creation during an address to a high level EU conference discussing a report on the future of the environment.

The European Environment Agency’s report, entitled “The European Environment State and Outlook 2015,” outlines the challenges that the environment faces across the EU and includes assessments and data at global, regional and country levels, as well as cross-country comparisons. It also deals with the objective of 'living well within the limits of the planet' by 2050, as set out in the 7th Environment Action Programme.

“I believe there is a direct link between environment, health, economy and jobs and decreasing poverty trends,”concluded the Labour MEP. “This can be either looked at as a hurdle or as an opportunity that we need to be prepared for and address now. I look at it as an opportunity.” 

The high level conference was also addressed by Dr Hans Brynincks, Executive Director the European Environment Agency, former EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik and Karl Falkenberg, Director General of DG Environment.

Dalli spoke about implementation and citizen engagement as pivotal for long-term sustainability. “Long term sustianbility should be our final aim. Legislation is important but more important is the implementation of such legislation. It is useless to have well-written legislation on its own without any proper follow-ups. Engaging our citizens is equally important. It can be a challenge but also an opportunity cause at the end of the day there is a direct link between the state of the environment and human health,” she emphasised.

The MEP described her concern at the fact that air pollution causes 400,000 premature deaths every year in Europe and that 10,000 premature deaths are caused by noise pollution.  She also referred to climate change calling for both mitigating and adaptation measures and advocated the advancement of the “circular and green economy” which, she said, can help create jobs throughout the EU.

Touching on energy and the EU’s Energy Union, Dalli repeated her recent calls for increased use of cleaner energy. “We need to make a move towards cleaner energy sources and start looking at LNG as a fuel for maritime vessels and heavy vehicles. Energy efficiency should also be considered at the heart of future strategies related to energy,” she said.

“This is all about the kind of future we want to offer our children. According to the 2050 vision, my son would live half his life in a low-carbon society. I want this vision to be realized and to realise this vision we need more ambitious, integrated approaches to environmental policies. We need bolder actions and policies, more knowledge, further investment and innovation,” she concluded.