Environment Commission

This Commission came into being by the Decree of the 23rd August 2003, after the Diocesan Synod Document “Culture-Society-Church” suggested the setting up of an Environment Commission within the Pastoral Secretariat. Its aim is that of creating awareness of the responsibility and the ethics of safeguarding the environment, defining the policy/rules that should guide those responsible in the Church in environmental questions and offer technical and scientific suggestions to Church Authorities in specific matters concerning the environment.

Email: [email protected]

Chairperson of the Commission:

David Azzopardi

Members of the Commission:

Prof. Paul Pace (Vice-Chairperson)
Prof. Reuben Paul Borg
Prof. Vincent Buhagiar
Theresa Bugeja Calleja
Fr Mark Ciantar
Fr Dijonisju Mintoff
Svetlana Schembri Wismayer
Emanuel Scicluna
Anthony Zammit
Marie-Therese Camenzuli (Secretary)

Press Releases and Policy Documents

The Villa Rosa project prioritises individual needs over community wellbeing – 12/11/2024
Recommendations on the Ħondoq ir-Rummien zone – 08/11/2023
The letter: A message for our earth – 26/09/2023
Interdiocesan Environment Commission reflection on Environment Day 2023 – 04/06/2023
A card to the citizens of Malta from the Environment Commission – 28/12/2022
Era should have veto on Planning matters – 09/11/2022
Listen to the voice of creation: Journey with Hildegard of Bingen – 20/09/2022
Season of Creation: “Listen to the voice of creation” – 01/09/2022
Interdiocesan Environment Commission Reflection on Environment Day 2022 – 02/06/2022
A general election campaign in the shadow of war in Europe – 17/03/2022
Budget 2022 recommendations by the Environment Commission – 11/10/2021
Season of Creation 2021: Listening to the citizen’s voice – 01/09/2021
A road which will wreak havoc on the natural and architectural heritage and threaten the livelihood of the farming community – 14/10/2020
On safeguarding our rural heritage and protecting the farming community – 13/10/2020
Wild bird conservation regulations 2020 – 28/09/2020
Cleaning up the environment and our conscience to truly protect the world – 19/09/2020
Are hopes for a safer construction industry crumbling under the rubble? – Environment Commission – 29/07/2020
Intelligent planning and the future of Ħal Ferħ – 18/06/2020
A call to safeguard open spaces – 20/05/2020
Rising above COVID-19? – 18/05/2020
The tragic death of Miriam Pace: what should be done so that yet another loss of life would not be in vain? – 21/03/2020
The Malta-Gozo tunnel – no justification in the absence of published studies on the alternatives – 06/02/2020
Cottonera’s open spaces and historic environment under threat – 19/11/2019
The importance of sound planning in Malta – Environment Commission – 08/11/2019
The environment: one step forward, two steps back – 01/11/2019
The Environment Commission on the 2020 Budget – 11/10/2019
True respect and genuine care for all Creation – 23/09/2019
Opening of the 2019 Season of Creation – 30/08/2019
The revised fuel stations policy: intentionally ambiguous or just not properly reviewed?- Environment Commission – 29/06/2019
Environment Commission: Building collapse, damages, and the safety and wellbeing of people – 22/06/2019
Proposal to candidates for the Malta European elections 2019 – 22/05/2019
Environment Commission: Towards sustainable connectivity between Malta and Gozo – 21/03/2019
Does our environment have to endure this much? – 09/02/2019
The Signs of the Times – 25/01/2019
European Parliament President thanks the Environment Commission for its proposals – 22/01/2019
Malta’s Sustainable Development – A Vision for 2050 – 11/01/2019
The Environment Commission proposes EU member states be more attentive to the people – 08/11/2018
St Rita Priory Site Project – 05/10/2018
Pro-business at all cost or pro-community? – 28/09/2018
Season of Creation 2018 – 13/09/2018
Will St George defeat the dragon of unbridled development? – 30/05/2018
Worrisome decisions by Planning Authority and Environment Resources Authority – 13/03/2018
Masterplan needed for Marsa and the inner Grand Harbour area – 26/01/2018
Statement by the Environment Commission about Villa St Ignatius in St Julian’s – 06/12/2017
Planning for today for the few – Not for tomorrow for everyone – 07/11/2017
Respect for life in all its aspects – Church Environment Commission – 29/09/2017
The Environment Commission on the value of trees – 01/09/2017
The 2017 Season of Creation – 29/08/2017
Twenty proposals to political parties for the 2017 general election – 11/05/2017
Il-kollass tat-Tieqa tad-Dwejra għandu jiftħilna bieb biex nirriflettu fuq il-patrimonju nazzjonali – 10/03/2017
The study by MDA on property development cannot substitute a national property study by Government – 14/02/2017
Statement by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment about the Application for an IPPC Permit at Delimara – 18/12/2016
The KA calls for the Paceville Masterplan to be revised – 03/12/2016
Message by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment on the occasion of World Town Planning Day – 08/11/2016
Statement by the Church Environment Commission about the construction of high-rise buildings – 12/08/2016
Proposals addressed to the Church inspired by the Encyclical Laudato Si’ – Environment Commission – 05/12/2015
Proposals addressed to civil society and Government, inspired by the Encyclical Laudato Si’ – Environment Commission – 05/12/2015
Laudato Si’: From the document to action – 26/11/2015
Message by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment on the occasion of World Town Planning Day – 07/11/2015
Environment Commission reactions to the three bills related to the MEPA demerger – 21/08/2015
Reaction to the proposed shooting ranges complex at Busbesija in Mosta – 17/06/2015
All that Glitters is not Gold – Reaction to the Proposal for the Construction of a University in M’scala – 20/05/2015
Statement by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment: The Development of the South-East Coast of Malta – 06/01/2015
Armier: Protect the rights of those who abide by the law – 03/09/2014
SPED – A far cry from the 1990 Structure Plan – 24/06/2014
Reflection on the European Parliament elections – 09/06/2014
Reflections on the European Parliament elections – 02/05/2014
The reaction of the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment to the Consultation Documents on Environment and Planning – 23/04/2014
The reaction of the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment to the Proposal Document on Fireworks Factory Complexes – 08/02/2014
The reaction of the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment to the Consultation Document on Waste Management – 24/01/2014
The Interdiocesan Commision for the Environment’s reaction to the draft ODZ Policy – 19/12/2013
Opinion Paper by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment on Sustainable Development – 17/10/2013
Opinion expressed by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment regarding the proposed development at Ħondoq ir-Rummien – 24/04/2013
Creation Day – 03/10/2012
REACTION BY THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION TO THE GĦAQDA PIROTEKNIKA MALTIJA – 11/06/2012
Course by the Environment Commission – 11/06/2012
THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION ON FIREWORKDS, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT – 25/05/2012
MESSAGE TO PARISHES BY THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION – 29/03/2012
STATEMENT BY THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION – 08/03/2012
CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE ‘ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY’ – 06/03/2012
OPINION PAPER ON THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK – 02/02/2012
NATIONAL CONFERENCE: ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY – 02/12/2011
RESPECT TOWARDS ANIMALS – 28/10/2011
STATEMENT BY THE COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE OCCASSION OF CREATION DAY – 30/09/2011
THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION ON ĦONDOQ IR-RUMMIEN – 21/07/2010
VANDALISM: A DEPLORABLE ACT…OFFENDING THE COMMUNITY, OFFENDING GOD – 28/04/2010
THE USE OF OLIVE TREES DURING THE HOLY WEEK – 24/03/2010