16 September 2025
Press Release: Friends of the Earth Malta calls for a bold, coherent, and truly sustainable Malta Vision 2050
Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) welcomes the launch of the government’s Vision Malta 2050 strategy and the inclusion of interim goals for 2035, which mark the start of an important process. We note positively the commitments on renewable energy and the recognition of quality of life as a guiding principle. However, our detailed consultation feedback highlights serious gaps and contradictions that must be addressed if Malta is to meet its climate and sustainability obligations.
FoEM is concerned that the vision, as presented, remains fragmented and inconsistent. While sectors such as construction and gaming are promoted for growth, there is far less emphasis on genuinely sustainable industries such as renewable energy, ecological innovation, and community-based solutions. This risks undermining Malta’s commitments under the European Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, and the Global Biodiversity Framework. FoEM noted that the strong emphasis on quality of life is welcome, but contradictions persist: the continued focus on economic growth, including GDP benchmarks and expansion of construction, undermines sustainability goals.
In our feedback, we recommend that Malta adopt far more ambitious renewable energy targets, while phasing out fossil fuel infrastructure, including the proposed gas pipeline. We also stress that connectivity should prioritise low-carbon options, such as expanded sea links to Mediterranean ports and investment in public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure, rather than the expansion of long-haul flights or new roads.
FoEM argues that the current mass tourism model is unsustainable, and we call for a shift towards ecotourism, stricter controls on cruise liners and luxury yachts, higher environmental contributions from visitors, and carrying capacity studies for Malta’s beaches and localities. In the food and agriculture sector, we urge the adoption of a national plant-based food strategy to improve public health, cut emissions, and support local farmers, with agroecology, urban food gardens, and community food systems placed at the core of building resilience.
On land and housing, we emphasise the need for strong limits on overdevelopment, speculative construction, and land reclamation. We call for public land to be safeguarded, biodiversity corridors to be created, and existing vacant buildings to be prioritised for use before any new development is considered. In terms of waste and the circular economy, Malta must move beyond incineration and commit to ambitious waste reduction, recycling, and reuse policies, with proper enforcement, public education, and mandatory measures for industry. Finally, we highlight that Malta should plan a transition away from intensive animal farming while phasing out tuna ranching and adopting stronger animal welfare protections across land and sea.
“Vision 2050 must be more than a patchwork of ambitions – it must be a clear, coordinated roadmap to a fair and sustainable future,” stated FoEM Director Martin Galea de Giovanni. “Without stronger commitments on renewable energy, food, land use, and waste, Malta risks locking itself into old patterns of overdevelopment and inequality. Our proposals show that there is an opportunity to take a different path, one that benefits people, nature, and the economy alike. Equally, wellbeing and quality of life must be at the heart of decision-making. Planning policies that undermine mental and physical health, destroy green spaces, and worsen traffic directly contradict the strategy’s stated goals.”
Ironically, in light of the parallel process of the Development Planning Bill, the reforms contradict the aspirations of Malta’s Vision 2050 strategy. While the strategy seeks to measure progress beyond GDP through life satisfaction, education, healthcare, income, and community well-being, these planning reforms would actively undermine those goals. One cannot claim to prioritise well-being while permitting overdevelopment, traffic increases, loss of green space, and environmental degradation. Without alignment between strategy and policy, Vision 2050 risks becoming a branding exercise rather than a roadmap for real change.
FoEM urges the government to integrate these recommendations into the final Vision 2050 strategy, ensuring that sustainability and wellbeing are not just mentioned, but meaningfully implemented with concrete targets, enforcement mechanisms, and real public participation.
MT
Stqarrija Stampa: Friends of the Earth Malta tappella għal Viżjoni Malta 2050 iktar b’saħħitha, iktar konsistenti, u tassew sostenibbli
Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) tilqa’ t-tnedija tal-istrateġija tal-gvern Viżjoni Malta 2050 u l-inklużjoni ta’ miri interim għall-2035. Din it-tnedija timmarka l-bidu ta’ proċess importanti. Ninnutaw b’mod pożittiv l-impenji relatati mal-enerġija rinnovabbli u l-għarfien tal-kwalità tal-ħajja bħala prinċipju ewlieni. Madanakollu, ir-rispons dettaljat tagħna għal din il-konsultazzjoni jisħaq dwar diskrepanzi u kontradizzjonijiet serji li għad iridu jiġu indirizzati jekk Malta qed timmira li tissodisfa l-obbligi tagħha dwar il-klima u s-sostenibbiltà.
FoEM hija mħassba li l-viżjoni kif ppreżentata għadha frammentata u inkonsistenti. Filwaqt li s-setturi bħal dawk tal-kostruzzjoni u l-gaming qed jitqiesu għat-tkabbir, hemm ħafna inqas enfasi fuq industriji li huma ġenwinament sostenibbli, bħalma huma s-setturi tal-enerġija rinnovabbli, l-innovazzjoni ekoloġika, u s-soluzzjonijiet fi ħdan il-komunità. Dan jirriskja li jdgħajjef l-impenji ta’ Malta taħt il-Patt Ekoloġiku Ewropew, il-Ftehim ta’ Pariġi, u l-Qafas Globali tal-Bijodiversità. FoEM tilqa’ l-enfasi qawwija fuq il-kwalità tal-ħajja iżda l-kontradizzjonijiet jippersistu. L-enfasi kontinwa fuq it-tkabbir ekonomiku, inklużi l-benchmarks tal-PGD u t-tkabbir fis-settur tal-kostruzzjoni, idgħajjef l-għanijiet marbuta mas-sostenibbiltà.
Fit-tweġiba tagħna, aħna nirrakkomandaw li Malta tadotta miri ta’ enerġija rinnovabbli ħafna iktar ambizzjużi, filwaqt li tnaqqas gradwalment l-infrastruttura tal-fjuwils fossili, inkluż il-pipeline tal-gass li diġa ġie propost. Aħna nisħqu wkoll li l-mezzi ta’ konnettività għandhom jagħtu prijorita’ lill-għażliet ta’ trasport b’livelli ta’ emissjonijiet tal-karbonju baxxi bħal iktar konnessjonijiet bil-baħar lejn portijiet fil-Mediterran, investiment fit-trasport pubbliku, u l-infrastruttura għall-mixi u l-użu tar-roti minflok żieda fit-titjiriet fit-tul jew f’toroq ġodda.
FoEM issostni li l-mudell attwali tat-turiżmu tal-massa mhuwiex sostenibbli, u tappella għal bidla lejn l-ekoturiżmu, kontrolli iktar b’saħħithom fuq il-cruise liners u l-jottijiet lussużi, kontribuzzjonijiet ambjentali ogħla mit-turisti, u studji dwar kemm il-bajjiet u l-lokalitajiet Maltin jifilħu jilqgħu persuni. Fis-settur tal-ikel u l-agrikoltura, inħeġġu l-adozzjoni ta’ strateġija nazzjonali tal-ikel ibbażata fuq il-ħxejjex – biex ittejjeb is-saħħa pubblika, tnaqqas l-emissjonijiet, u tappoġġja lill-bdiewa lokali – bl-agroekoloġija, il-ġonna tal-ikel urbani, u s-sistemi ta’ ikel li jpoġġu il-komunità fil-qalba ta’ mudell li jżid iktar ir-reżiljenza.
Dwar l-oqsma tal-art u tal-bini, aħna nenfasizzaw il-ħtieġa ta’ kontrolli b’saħħithom fuq l-iżvilupp żejjed, il-kostruzzjoni spekulattiva, u r-reklamazzjoni tal-art. Nappellaw sabiex l-art pubblika tiġi mħarsa, biex jinħolqu kurituri tal-bijodiversità, u biex il-bini li fil-preżent huwa vojt jiġi kkunsidrat qabel kull tip ta’ żvilupp ġdid. F’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-iskart u l-ekonomija ċirkolari, Malta trid titbiegħed mill-inċinerazzjoni u timpenja ruħha b’mod ambizzjuz għat-tnaqqis, ir-riċiklaġġ u l-użu mill-ġdid tal-iskart, b’infurzar xieraq, kampanji ta’ edukazzjoni pubblika, u miżuri obbligatorji għall-industriji. Fl-aħħar nett, aħna nisħqu li Malta għandha taħseb biex tersaq lil hinn mit-trobbija intensiva tal-annimali billi tnaqqas gradwalment il-farms tat-tonn kif ukoll taddotta protezzjoni u ħarsien iktar b’saħħithom tal-annimali kemm fl-art u fil-baħar.
“Vision Malta 2050 għandha tkun iktar milli taħlita ta’ għanijiet – għandha tkun pjan b’direzzjonijiet ċari u kkoordinati għal futur ġust u sostenibbli,” stqarr id-Direttur tal-FoEM Martin Galea De Giovanni. “Mingħajr impenji aktar b’saħħithom dwar l-enerġija rinnovabbli, l-ikel, l-użu tal-art, u l-iskart, Malta tirriskja li tingħalaq fi drawwiet qodma ta’ żvilupp żejjed u inugwaljanza. Il-proposti tagħna juru li hemm opportunità biex nieħdu triq differenti, waħda li tibbenefika lin-nies, lin-natura, u l-ekonomija flimkien. Bl-istess mod, il-benesseri u l-kwalità tal-ħajja għandhom ikunu fil-qalba tad-deċiżjonijiet. Politika ta’ l-ippjanar li tagħmel ħsara lis-saħħa mentali u fiżika, li teqred l-spazji ħodor, u li tiggrava t-traffiku tmur direttament kontra l-għanijiet iddikjarati tal-istrateġija.”
Ironikament, fid-dawl tal-proċess parallel tal-Abbozz ta’ Liġi dwar l-Ippjanar tal-Iżvilupp, ir-riformi jmorru kontra l-aspirazzjonijiet tal-istrateġija – Viżjoni Malta 2050. Filwaqt li l-istrateġija tfittex li tkejjel il-progress lil hinn mill-PGD permezz tal-kwalità tal-ħajja, l-edukazzjoni, il-kura tas-saħħa, id-dħul, u l-benesseri tal-komunità, dawn ir-riformi tal-ippjanar jmorru kompletament kontra dawk l-għanijiet. Wieħed ma jistax jippretendi li jqiegħed fuq quddiem il-benesseri tal-pubbliku filwaqt li fl-istess ħin jippermetti żvilupp żejjed, żidiet fit-traffiku, telf ta’ spazju aħdar, u degradazzjoni ambjentali. Mingħajr koordinament bejn l-istrateġija u l-politika, Viżjoni Malta 2050 qed tirriskja li ssir eżerċizzju ta’ branding aktar milli pjan direzzjonali għal bidla vera.
FoEM tħeġġeġ lill-gvern biex jintegra dawn ir-rakkomandazzjonijiet fil-verżjoni finali tal-Viżjoni Malta 2050. B’hekk jiżgura li s-sostenibbiltà u l-benesseri mhux biss jissemmgħu fuq il-karta, iżda jkunu implimentati bis-serjetà permezz ta’ miri konkreti, mekkaniżmi ta’ infurzar, u parteċipazzjoni vera tal-pubbliku.