Minister ‘perplexed’ at eNGOs’ decision to boycott climate board

Environment minister Leo Brincat claimed to be “perplexed” by the rationale behind the boycott of a climate action board by a group of environmental NGOs.

The NGOs - Din  l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, NatureTrust, and Ramblers Associations –last month rejected Brincat’s request to sit on the new board in protest at a proposed legal notice that facilitates the possession of protected birds.

“While some of their complaints about the government’s policies may be justifiable, it is perplexing that they have boycotted the board in protest at a legal notice that is still being discussed.”

He said it was “ironic” that BirdLife Malta –the organisation must vociferous against the hunting of protected birds - refused to participate in the protest.

He said that some NGOs within the ‘coalition’ have privately contacted him to try and find a solution to the boycott, and that other green NGOs have asked him why they have not been offered a seat on the climate board.

“Every registered environmental NGOs, even those with only one member, have every right to take up the empty seat on the climate action board if they have the backing of the majority of the other green NGOs,” he said.

The climate action board – chaired by environment law professor Simone Borg – convened for the first time on Tuesday.

The five NGOs boycotted in protest at a draft legal notice that proposes lower fines for people caught in possession of protected birds, with the law now distinguishing between people caught red-handed shooting at a protected bird and those simply found in possession of such a bird.