“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:

1. The Government of Malta exists to serve all of its citizens.

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. Malta and Gozo’s natural environment -land, (including roads and pavements) coast and sea- and cultural heritage be legally protected common benefits, to be enjoyed by all and future generations. These public assets should remain public and not be privatised unless in the public interest for a specific use on a temporary fixed basis and not for eternity.

7. This 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.

8. 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.”

9. The provisions of paragraph (8) above in the Constitution 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.

10. 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 in the public interest.

January 2022, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar