On the occasion of the Season of Creation, the Church Environment Commission (KA) wishes to share some thoughts inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’, on the value of Life and the need to respect it in all its aspects. This in a time when many end up accepting fallacies and misconceptions presented in the media, which are nothing but a distortion of reality…

There are various references to trees in the Bible, including some that refer to the “tree of life”. Apart from their metaphorical meanings, trees do provide a great service to humankind. Their greatest contribution is much closer to home than the inspiration that they provided and continue to provide to poets, painters and musicians over the ages. Apart from providing the raw material for various goods they also provide an immense service in the form of carbon sequestration, reducing pollution, shelter from the sun, recreational space where people can interact with nature and the obvious aesthetic value both in rural as well as urban areas…

The Church Environment Commission (KA) appeals to political parties so that during this
pre-election time, they do not make unsustainable promises which later on will turn out to be detrimental to all especially to the most vulnerable. The KA appeals to the parties to promise that in the environmental sector they will commit themselves so that, with facts and with laws and policies that contain no loopholes which give rise to abuse, to protect the natural environment, the Outside Development Zones, the historical built heritage and buildings that have architectural value…

Ir‑reazzjonijiet tal‑politiċi u tal‑pubbliku għall‑kollass tat‑Tieqa tad‑Dwejra għandhom iġegħluna nirriflettu fuq l‑attitudnijiet tagħna lejn il‑patrimonju naturali, storiku, u arkitettoniku ta’ Malta u Għawdex. Li t‑Tieqa ċediet hija parti minn proċess naturali li kien mistenni. Il‑mistoqsija minn dejjem kienet “meta” u mhux “jekk” kinitx se taqa’. Il‑poplu u l‑politiċi jħossu li l‑pajjiż tilef parti mill‑patrimonju nazzjonali. U bir‑raġun!

Dan l‑avveniment iżda għandu jħeġġiġna, kemm ċittadini u kemm politiċi, biex nistaqsu mistoqsijiet pertinenti dwar x’qegħdin nagħmlu biex nimmaniġġaw b’mod sostenibbli r‑riżorsi li għad fadlilna…

The Church Environment Commission (KA), whilst acknowledging the benefits of a study on Property Development such as that commissioned by the Malta Developers Association (MDA), stresses that the government and the competent authorities, including the Planning Authority, should still take the initiative and launch a national study on property, as they are duty bound to do. Such a study would go beyond the interests pertaining to a particular section of Maltese society, in that it would take into account every aspect related to the quality of life of one and all…

Tomorrow, Monday 19th December 2016, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is expected to make its decision on the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) application for the “renewal and variation of the IPPC permit to include the operation of Delimara 1, Delimara 2a and 2b, Delimara 3 (conversion from HFO to Natural Gas), Delimara 4 CGGT and LNG Terminal”.

The Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) sadly notes that, once again, an issue of national importance, in this case the generation of electricity, is being turned into a political one…

The Church Environment Commission (KA) sadly notes that the proposed Paceville Masterplan seems to imply that the appalling conditions of the locality it is supposedly addressing are standalones and not the various related symptoms of a common cause: unsustainable development. Therefore, one would have imagined that the PA and Government would be wise enough to identify the real cause of the problems, learn from past experiences and ultimately avoid repeating the same mistakes…

In December 2015, the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment (KA) proposed some points for reflection and action by Maltese citizens and Government so that as a Maltese nation we do our part to care for our common home. The proposals followed the publication of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’.

On World Town Planning Day 2016 which is being observed today, the KA would like to focus on one recommendation that dealt with a national study on property…