Charter

ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER

Our ancestors built bastions to protect themselves from invaders, worked together in times of immense economic strife, persevered through wars and pandemics, ultimately fighting for the Malta we all know and love. Today, it is our turn to look after the islands for future generations, and ensure that public policy direction and its implementation, safeguards our heritage and Quality of Life from irreversible damage.

We, The Citizens of The Maltese Islands Therefore Declare That:

• The Government of Malta exists to serve all of its citizens and the common good.

• It is a fundamental principle of Government to promote and protect the ‘Quality of Life’ of its citizens, endorsing and implementing the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

• It is our legal right that the state should fight to protect the common interests of its citizens, where their best collective interests override individual interests whether for business, leisure or private use.

• Government does not have the legal right to diminish citizens’ quality of life by abusing those inherent rights granted to its peoples.

• Its people have a legal right to a healthy environment, free of air, dust, visual and noise pollution, living peacefully in their homes and enjoying all public spaces.

• Malta and Gozo’s environment – land (including roads and pavements), coast and sea – and cultural heritage are to be legally protected common benefits, to be enjoyed by all and future generations. These public assets should remain public and private involvement should only be considered if the main aim is the meaningful improvement of the area, and not exclusively for pecuniary gain or exploitation. Concessions should be on a temporary fixed basis and strictly controlled.

• The natural environment and urban green areas are essential to our citizens’ Quality of Life, especially trees which reduce stress, decrease air and noise pollution and provide shade.

• It is the duty of Government to uphold our Constitution, wherein “the State shall protect and conserve the environment and its resources for the benefit of present and future generations and shall take measures to address any form of environmental degradation in Malta, including that of air, water and land, and any sort of pollution problem and to promote, nurture and support the right of action in favour of the environment.”

• The provisions of Constitution paragraph (8) above must be legally enforceable in any Maltese court and the principles contained therein be applied in making laws and policy formulation as well as its interpretation.

• Infrastructural and unsustainable development must not take place at the expense of the Quality of Life of its citizens. All Government and Planning Authority policies and government decisions must be subject to the law, public interest and climate change considerations, with no exceptions or fast routes for Government projects unless verifiably in the public interest.

ENDORSERS:

Social Partners:
General Workers’ Union
Gozo NGOs Association
Kamra tal-Periti
Malta Chamber of Commerce
Malta Chamber of Planners
Malta Employers’ Association
Malta Union of Tourist Guides

ENGOs:
ACT
Birdlife Malta
Extinction Rebellion
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Għawdix
Gozo University Group (GUG)
Moviment Graffitti
Noise Abatement Organisation Malta NatureTrust Malta
Ramblers’ Association
ROTA
Sustainable Built Environment
Wirt Għawdex

Local Councils:
Birgu Local Council
Qala Local Council
Qrendi Local Council
Safi Local Council
San Ġiljan Local Council
Sliema Local Council
Swieqi Local Council
Xagħra Local Council
Zejtun Local Council