New Environment and Resources Authority to be launched on Monday

The new Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) as the national regulator on the environment will be launched on Monday, a statement from the authority said.

With a mission to safeguard the environment for a sustainable quality of life, ERA shall be maintaining consultation with all stakeholders so as to promote and instill sound environmental management.

ERA's main goals are:

• To mainstream environmental targets and objectives across Government and society;
• To take the leading role in advising Government on environmental policy-making at the national level, as well as in the context of international environmental negotiations;
• To develop evidence-based policy; backed by a robust data gathering structure; and
• To draw up plans, provide a licensing regime and monitor activities having an environmental impact, and to integrate environmental considerations within the development control process.

The Authority was established by the new Environment Protection Act I of 2016 and its Board set up through Government Notice 132 of 2016.

Michelle Piccinino was appointed as the new Director for the Environment within the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) following a call for applications.

Michelle Piccinino has graduated as an architect and civil engineer from the University of Malta in June 1995.  Since then she held several senior positions with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, including but not limited to being a member of advisory bodies to coordinating large scale and projects of national interest.

Her multidisciplinary approach has enabled her to adapt to the various cross-cutting-roles and to effectively and constantly involve the different stakeholders in the process.  She has represented the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on various boards and committees and had a leading role in negotiations at high-level bi-lateral meetings.

During the past months Ms. Piccinino has been involved in the in the demerger process of MEPA and the eventual setup of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), including the legislative and the administrative setup of the new authority. 

She is married to Ivan and mother to Laura and Luca Aidan.  

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1PMqZ8q
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