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Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) proudly marks its 40th anniversary in 2025, celebrating four decades of unwavering commitment to environmental justice, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1985 as Żgħażagħ Għall-Ambjent (Youths for the Environment), the organisation has grown into a leading voice for sustainability and environmental protection in Malta. FoEM owes much of its foundation and early successes to the journalist and activist, Julian Manduca (1958–2005), a pioneer in environmental activism in Malta, whose vision shaped the organisation’s formative years.
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In our first episode of the Friends of the Earth Malta podcast, Beth Fiteni our Zero Waste Campaigner has a chat with our director Martin Galea de Giovanni. They dive into the issues surrounding food waste in Malta, share information about how better to use food scraps, what our plans to tackle the issues of unused food from supermarkets and other major establishments.
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We have now officially launched the social media for the Il-Forn ta' Kemmuna! FoEM is leading the Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna project, aimed at transforming Comino’s historic bakery into an environmental education hub. This initiative aspires to restore and conserve the island’s historical and ecological significance, particularly as a Natura 2000 site.
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Are you passionate about the environment, sustainability, and social justice? Do you want to be part of a youth-led movement making a real impact in Malta? We are looking for people to volunteer with Young Friends of the Earth Malta (YFoEM) to help shape our work and build a greener, fairer future together!
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Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) is dedicated to environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and public engagement. As part of a long-term restoration project on Comino, we are seeking a Project Manager to oversee the implementation of restoration work and regenerate 'Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna' into hub of sustainability which complements the protected island’s natural beauty, its historic value and educates the general public about why it’s worthy of protection.
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Join us every Thursday this month for the Youth Hub from 5:00pm till 8:00pm. Our Youth Hub is your space to unwind, connect with others, and delve into topics related to ourselves and the planet – all while having fun, and enjoying music and games. Our space at Friends of the Earth Malta provides an inclusive environment for you to chill, learn and meet new people.
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Żurrieq farmers, backed by numerous organisations and residents, have called on the Lands Authority to immediately withdraw the consent it granted to a private developer for the submission of Planning Control application PC/00068/22. This seeks the destruction of government-owned agricultural land in Tal-Bebbux to make way for more buildings. The land in question has been farmed for generations and remains a source of local food production.
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In 2022, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 30 March as International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually. This year the theme is textiles and fashion, calling attention to the need for action to reduce waste in the fashion and textile sector and advance circular solutions. This aligns with the Responsible Consumption and Production Goal number 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN.
Why does textile waste matter?
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Have you been to Comino lately? Share your experience.
Friends of the Earth Malta is conducting a survey to gather your insights about your experience visiting the island of Comino. This initiative aims to protect Comino and ensure the voices of all stakeholders are heard.
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Friends of the Earth Malta attended a three day project meeting and conference in Limassol (Cyprus) as part of our Micromobi project, sharing best practices and inspiring ideas about how to create positive change for our cities by promoting micromobility, with project partners from Malta, Cyprus, Italy and Slovenia. Apart from meetings to discuss the progress and agree on the way forward for the last 3 months of the project, a number of exciting events were on the programme: a bike ride around the city, a documentary screening and a day-long public conference on the topic of micromobility and the future of transport.
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On the weekend of March 21st-23rd, young environmental advocates gathered at the scenic Xrobb L-Għagin Hostel in M’xlokk for a transformative and empowering weekend. Hosted by Friends of the Earth Malta (FOEM), the Youth Environmental Camp brought together like-minded individuals passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and their communities. The camp was a perfect blend of engaging workshops, team-building activities, and reflection sessions, all designed to foster a deeper connection to nature, social justice, and community organizing.
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As urban trips are on average just 5 km long, there is a lot of potential for shifting trips to micromobility: smaller and greener vehicles. Micromobility includes small human or electric-powered transport modes for short urban journeys, such as cycling, scooting and walking. However, to promote micromobility, there is the need for safe infrastructure and improved road safety: the number one concern for vulnerable road users using micromobility.
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From December 7th to 14th, 2024, Martina Camilleri, Project Manager at Friends of the Earth Malta, participated in the Ulex Training on Strategy Making. In this blog, she shares her personal experience and reflections following the event. Martina states – I joined a group of activists and community organizers from across Europe for an intensive week of learning in the small mountain village of Eroles, Spain. Hosted by the Ulex Project, the training focused on how to plan and carry out effective strategies for social and environmental change.
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The climate crisis is not just an environmental and economic issue, it is also deeply emotional. Fear, anxiety, grief, and hopelessness are common responses to climate change, especially among young people. These climate emotions can hinder engagement with environmental issues, often leading to paralysis rather than action. Despite possessing the knowledge, technical solutions, and strategies for sustainable transformation, society has yet to reach a true breakthrough in consolidating change. A major challenge remains: effectively involving people, especially youth, in this transition while supporting their emotional resilience.
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In theory, Malta signed this treaty. In practice, these rights are not fully upheld and many obstacles remain. As part of the recent public consultation on the Convention’s implementation in Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta submitted recommendations to address some of these concerns in order to strengthen transparency, accountability, and environmental democracy.
Access to Environmental Information: Why is it so hard to get data?
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In March, Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) welcomed a group of Geography students from Manchester University who spent a week in Malta studying climate change adaptation strategies and their implementation. During their visit, the students engaged in a insightful discussion with FoEM’s Climate team, Climate Campaign Coordinator Dr. Suzanne Maas and Project Manager Martina Camilleri, about Malta’s climate policies and adaptation strategy.
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By Friends of the Earth Zero Waste Campaign Coordinator Beth Fiteni I had the opportunity to attend the Zero Waste Festival in Barcelona organized by Zero waste Europe, where about 100 people gathered to learn and share success stories about reducing waste going to landfills or incinerators. Zero waste means reducing overall waste where possible, by choosing biodegradable or durable, reusable items.
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On a sunny March morning, a group of nature lovers, activists and volunteers came together for a citizen science activity with a blooming purpose: to document Malta’s wild orchids. The event, led by the Wild for Orchids Community, brought together participants from Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, and BirdLife Malta, along with Xemxija residents. In just a few hours, they recorded over 480 orchid specimens, representing five different species—all within a small threatened plot of land.
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Every donation, no matter how small, is an invaluable contribution towards Friends of the Earth Malta's work.
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