Message by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi

Malta – once known for its clear seas, rich biodiversity, and vibrant countryside – is now a changed land. Concrete keeps spreading, natural spaces are vanishing, and the sea itself bears the wounds of pollution and slime. It is time to understand something basic: we are destroying the very land and sea that sustain us. The protection of creation is not a luxury, a talking point, or a political slogan. It is an ethical and national necessity.

The Maltese islands are among the most densely populated regions in the world. So every patch of land matters, every tree counts, every stretch of open space carries life. Yet, the ongoing wave of construction – often excessive, insensitive, and poorly regulated – has left scars across our landscape. Valleys once lush with trees are now choked by rubble and dust. Fields that fed generations have been replaced by concrete shells. Some would say this is progress. It is not. It is a slow self-destruction disguised as development.

Our environment is not an optional concern. It is the foundation of our health, economy, and identity. To degrade it is to wound our own soul. When we poison the sea with waste, we harm our future. When we cover fertile soil with asphalt, we steal from our children. When we silence the song of birds with the roar of bulldozers, we are silencing a part of creation’s praise to God. Malta’s beauty is not an infinite resource; it is fragile and finite, and once lost, it cannot be rebuilt.We need courage from our leaders, and conviction from our citizens, to say “enough” to the reckless exploitation of Malta’s limited land and water

Environmental protection is not simply about trees and plants. It is about justice. It is about the poor, the elderly, and children who suffer first when air quality deteriorates, and when green spaces vanish. It is about families who can no longer afford to live in a country overwhelmed by speculative greed. To protect creation is to defend human dignity. It is to recognise that the earth, our common home, belongs to everyone, not just to those with the power to exploit it.

We urgently need a national conversion of heart – an awakening, a rediscovery of our roots as a people who have always depended on the sea, the soil, and the air. We must cultivate once again a sense of reverence toward nature, not as a commodity, but as a sacred trust. This we do by consuming responsibly and living sustainably.

We need accountability. Enforcement must be rigorous, planning decisions transparent, and economic growth redefined to include the health of the earth. Every major project should be measured not just by profit margins, but by its impact on life – human and non-human alike. Reforming planning policies should make things better, not worse. We need courage from our leaders, and conviction from our citizens, to say “enough” to the reckless exploitation of Malta’s limited land and waters.

In 2022, Malta voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution recognising the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. A human right, says Malta!

Let us act with wisdom and with courage to safeguard our natural heritage. May we be remembered by future generations not as destroyers, but as guardians of creation – faithful stewards of this small, precious land.

✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi 
    Auxiliary Bishop

This article was first published on The Sunday Times of Malta on 12th October 2025.