Environment Commission

On safeguarding our rural heritage and protecting the farming community

In its submission as part of a consultation exercise related to the draft Rural Policy and Design Guidance 2020 the Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) insists that the draft policy on its own is not enough to protect the countryside from undesirable development and to safeguard a thriving farming community.

In the submissions, it put forward during the 2019 consultation exercise related to the same subject[i], the KA had called for the publication of data which would help assess the outcomes of present policies that would inform in a public manner amendments to such policies… Read more »

Wild bird conservation regulations 2020

Il-kummenti tal‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) bħala parti mill‑proċess ta’ konsultazzjoni tal-Ministeru għal Għawdex, dwar il-qafas li jippermetti deroga għal riċerka fuq seba’ speċi tal-għasafar tal-għana sabiex tiġi stabbilità l-popolazzjoni ta’ referenza ta’ Malta.

Il‑kunċett wara l‑proposta

Il‑KA taqbel mal‑kunċett li n‑nassaba jkunu direttament involuti fi proġetti xjentifiċi li jkabbru l‑għarfien dwar l‑għasafar u l‑imġiba tagħhom. Jekk ippjanat u maħdum sew, dan jista’ jkun pass fid‑direzzjoni t‑tajba sabiex tinstab soluzzjoni dejjiema u sostenibbli għall‑kwistjoni tal‑insib f’pajjiżna… Read more »

Cleaning up the environment and our conscience to truly protect the world

Waqt attività ta’ tindif li saret dalgħodu fuq il‑Bajja tal‑Għadira, il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) qalet li ħadd ma jieħu gost jiġbor skart li ħalla ħaddieħor, u għalhekk il‑Kummissjoni tħoss li attivitajiet bħal dawn għandhom iħeġġuna biex nagħmlu eżami tal‑kuxjenza fuq il‑ħarsien tal‑ħolqien.

Iċ‑Chairperson tal‑Kummissjoni Ambjent, Mario Camenzuli, wera x‑xewqa li bis‑sehem ta’ kulħadd naslu f’sitwazzjoni fejn dawn il‑clean‑ups ma jkunx hemm għalfejn isiru… Read more »

Are hopes for a safer construction industry crumbling under the rubble? – Environment Commission

Xprunata mill‑aħbar tal‑mewt traġika ta’ Miriam Pace, fit‑13 ta’ Marzu 2020, f’waħda mill-istqarrijiet tagħha, il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) tenniet dak li kienet qalet fi stqarrijiet oħra qabel, jiġifieri, li kien “wasal iż‑żmien li l‑awtoritajiet juru biċ‑ċar fejn huma l‑prijoritajiet tagħhom u, b’kuraġġ, jieħdu d‑deċiżjonijiet diffiċli li messhom ilhom li ttieħdu. Minkejja li jistgħu jkunu skomdi għal xi wħud, dawn id‑deċiżjonijiet jagħmlu ġieħ lill‑maġġoranza assoluta tal‑popolazzjoni… Read more »

Intelligent planning and the future of Ħal Ferħ

Ritratt: Google Earth

Il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) tixtieq turi s‑sodisfazzjon tagħha għad‑deċiżjoni tal‑Awtorità tal‑Ippjanar, li Villa Frere fi Gwardamanġa tingħata l‑ogħla grad ta’ protezzjoni. Daqstant ieħor ta’ min ifaħħar il‑ħruġ ta’ linji gwida bil‑ħsieb li tingħata attenzjoni akbar lill‑binjiet skedati u monumenti, meta jkunu qed jiġu proċessati applikazzjonijiet għal żvilupp qribhom. (Il‑KA tittama biss li l‑ispirtu ta’ dawn il‑linji gwida ma jkunx imminat mill‑membri tal‑kummissjonijiet li jiddeċiedu fuq l‑applikazzjonijiet ta’ żvilupp.) 

Jekk irridu li kull żvilupp li jsir ikun bil‑għaqal u sostenibbli, kif jidher li jixtieq il‑Ministru għall‑Ambjent, it‑Tibdil fil‑Klima u l‑Ippjanar Aaron Farrugia, ma jistax jonqos li jkollna ppjanar aktar intelliġenti milli kellna sa issa, u l‑KA tapprezza r‑rieda tajba ta’ dan il‑ministeru minn dan l-aspett… Read more »

A call to safeguard open spaces

As Maltese society hopefully approaches the end of the partial lockdown, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta would like to reflect on the importance of open spaces available to all. This is being done in the same week in which we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical Laudato si’ by Pope Francis, “On the Care of Our Common Home”… Read more »

Rising above COVID-19?

The Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) feels that now that our country is eagerly looking forward to a time of normality as the COVID-19 pandemic gradually subsides, it would be foolish to go back to our old ways as if nothing happened – as if we have learnt nothing from this experience. The KA believes we need to reinforce the self-discipline we have shown throughout the pandemic, so that all of us would be able to weather any similar experience in the future. 

The COVID-19 crisis has opened our eyes to our vulnerability and to what is most valuable in life… Read more »

The tragic death of Miriam Pace: what should be done so that yet another loss of life would not be in vain?

The destroyed house of Miriam Pace and her family. Photo: Newsbook

The premature death of Miriam Pace is unfortunately not the only one to have occurred due to irresponsible practices in the construction industry. We hear of residents who end up homeless, injured or even buried under the rubble, but also workers, including a considerable number of foreigners, who may be compelled to accept any type of work they are offered, and who are unfortunately thought of only when one of them dies on a construction site… Read more »

The Malta-Gozo tunnel – no justification in the absence of published studies on the alternatives

Screenshot: Google Earth

Il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) tħoss li għadha ma teżisti l‑ebda informazzjoni soda u rigoruża, u li hija pubblika, li permezz tagħha wieħed ikun jista’ jgħarbel u jixtarr l‑alternattivi kollha biex l‑aċċessibbiltà bejn Malta u Għawdex titjieb. Dan wara li ħarġet l‑aħbar li Infrastructure Malta kienet bdiet il‑proċess li bih qed tfittex li tidentifika kumpanija jew konsorzju biex jibnu u joperaw il‑mina għal żmien definit… Read more »

Cottonera’s open spaces and historic environment under threat

The Church Environment Commission (KA) declares that the application for the extension of the American University of Malta (AUM) is not only harmful to the wellbeing and quality of life of the residents of Cottonera, and harmful to the historic environment, but also runs counter to the planning framework of the Grand Harbour Local Plan. The Policy GP07 of the Grand Harbour Local Plan requires that:

Generally, buildings or structures must not obscure or overpower the bastions themselves… Read more »