Environment Commission

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

Summary of the Opinion Paper by the Environment Commission

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

Statement about the Report by the Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA)

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 »

The importance of sound planning in Malta – Environment Commission

Message on the occasion of World Town Planning Day 2019

Every year, the Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) issues a statement on this day to highlight the importance of sound planning for Malta, one of the most densely populated countries in the world. For such a small country, a planning process which is not hijacked by vested interests is of paramount importance, if the country is to pursue the route to sustainable development for the benefit of both current and future generations… Read more »

The environment: one step forward, two steps back

Il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) tinnota b’sodisfazzjon l‑approvazzjoni ta’ mozzjoni mill‑Parlament Malti li tiddikjara emerġenza fil‑klima.

Is‑sodisfazzjon tal‑KA għall‑pass li ħadet l‑ogħla istituzzjoni ta’ pajjiżna b’din id‑deċiżjoni ttappan bil‑kbir meta lbieraħ tħabbret id‑deċiżjoni li l‑Awtorità tal‑Ippjanar approvat applikazzjoni biex binja mitluqa fuq art barra ż‑żoni tal‑iżvilupp ġewwa l‑Qala Għawdex tinbidel f’villa moderna. Il‑KA ttenni li deċiżjonijiet bħal dawn juru insensitività kbira min‑naħa tal‑awtorijiet għall‑wirt naturali tal‑gżejjer tagħna u għal serħan il‑moħħ tal‑Maltin u l‑Għawdxin kollha, u tqisha bħala qabża lura mill‑aħbar tajba li kellna għaxart ijiem ilu… Read more »

The Environment Commission on the 2020 Budget

Ittra mill-Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent lill-Ministru tal-Finanzi bi proposti għall-Baġit 2020

  • Għażiż Prof. Scicluna,

    Proposta Baġit 2020: Studju Nazzjonali dwar il-propjetà

    Bħalma għamlet fis-snin li għaddew, il-Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent (KA) qiegħda għal darb’oħra tistieden lill-Gvern biex iniedi studju nazzjonali dwar il-propjetà. Sal-lum il-KA għadha ma tistax tifhem għalfejn il-Gvern qed iżomm lura milli jagħmel dan. Din hija r-raba’ sena li l-KA qed tħeġġeġ lill-Gvern biex jerfa’ r-responsabbiltajiet tiegħu u jniedi tali studju li jkollu l-parteċipazzjoni sħiħa tal-istakeholders kollha fit-tfassil tat-terms of reference…

  • Read more »

True respect and genuine care for all Creation

Synopsis of the Statement by the Church Environment Commission (KA)

  • In a statement issued on the occasion of this year’s Season of Creation (1st September – 4th October), the Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) highlights a number of examples of greenwashing which have characterized the local scenario throughout the 16 years it has been set up. Greenwashing is the practice of making unsubstantiated or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a project in order to make it appear more environmentally friendly than it really is…

  • Read more »

Opening of the 2019 Season of Creation

  • Il‑Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent ser tiftaħ ix‑Xahar tal‑Ħolqien biċ-ċelebrazzjoni ta’ Quddiesa kif ukoll taħdita fix‑Xgħajra. It‑taħdita mill‑Prof. Carmel Agius ser tkun dwar is‑seħer tal‑ħajja f’qiegħ il‑baħar tax‑Xgħajra u r‑rabta li dan għandu man‑nies tal‑lokal. Din l‑attività ser issir f’Dawret ix‑Xatt, ix‑Xgħajra stess, nhar it‑Tlieta 3 ta’ Settembru fis‑6:30pm. Kulħadd huwa mistieden jattendi.

    Ta’ kull sena, bejn l‑1 ta’ Settembru u l‑4 ta’ Ottubru, ix‑Xahar tal‑Ħolqien jistedinna biex bħala familja waħda nfittxu li flimkien insaħħu r‑relazzjoni tagħna ma’ xulxin, mal‑ħolqien u mal‑Ħallieq…

  • Read more »

The revised fuel stations policy: intentionally ambiguous or just not properly reviewed?- Environment Commission

Statement by the Church Environment Commission

  • The Interdiocesan Environment Commission (KA) holds that the revised fuel stations policy has not been properly reviewed prior to its publication and that its drafting was a very hasty job, possibly driven by assertive public protests that started to cause embarrassment to the authorities.

    The proposed policy states that if the “fuel station is not used for a period of three consecutive years within thirty years”, then the site “has to return to agricultural state.” However, earlier the policy states that the fuel station shall not be located on agricultural land…

  • Read more »

Environment Commission: Building collapse, damages, and the safety and wellbeing of people

The Interdiocesan Environment Commission’s contribution to the public consultation exercise related to the regulations on excavation and construction practices

  • “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence” (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights). It is the right of every individual to live peacefully and to enjoy his or her own property, safely. It is, therefore, an obligation of all players in the construction industry, including contractors, developers, policymakers, site managers, architects and other professionals and workers employed in the construction industry to leave no stone unturned to ensure apart from their own safety, that of people in spaces being developed/redeveloped and those adjacent to construction sites…

  • Read more »