Editorial

The commitment by the Church towards a more intelligent use of electricity and water in its parishes, centres and homes through the implementation of a set of guidelines drawn up by its inter-diocesan Environment Commission deserves appreciation. Above all, it underlines the fact that it is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges all of us to examine our lifestyle and the prevailing models of consumption and production, which are often unsustainable from a social, environmental and even economic viewpoint.

The guidelines echo the Church's resolve to do everything possible to raise awareness on the negative effects of climate change also through the implementation of effective energy-saving measures. It is now the turn of all those concerned in parishes and Church institutions to put the guidelines into practice.

The Church generates between 100 and 150 tonnes of CO2 during the year, or about 0.05 per cent of the country's emissions. It is estimated that the installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs would cut the Church's energy output by a third, a move promoting a much-needed sense of awareness towards a more sustainable consumption of energy even if this requires a change in one's lifestyle. Indeed, technical solutions alone cannot be the solution to all problems; a change in lifestyle habits is also needed.

The Church's Environment Commission's strategy regarding climate change, based on a direct and practical approach that includes environmental audits at the Archbishop's Curia building, the Church's Media Centre and the Żejtun parish, as well as the promotion of energy audits at the other parishes, is not the only feature in its credibility cap.

Since coming into being as a result of the Diocesan Synod of the Archdiocese of Malta (1999-2003), the Environment Commission has been striving to raise awareness on the responsibility and the ethics of safeguarding the environment, defining the policy/rules that should guide those responsible in the Church in environment questions and offer technical and scientific suggestions to the Church authorities on specific environmental-related matters. Its performance includes the contribution of a number of well-studied and very valid opinion papers or evaluation statements on various environmental topics including interim landfills, proposed golf courses, the Kalkara Valley, solid waste, the Sant'Antnin waste plant, sustainable tourism, common heritage and Mepa's role.

The Church's trust in the work of the commission was further recognised last May when the Bishops of Malta and Gozo decided it was time to develop it into an inter-diocesan body, thus incorporating also the diocese of Gozo.

On that occasion, the commission took the opportunity to make a direct and very sensible appeal to every individual according to his or her role in Maltese society for a commitment towards greater responsibility and transparency in the work of all those involved in the environment - from the highest authority of the country to every citizen - in such a way that each person is accountable for his or her actions.

All this is very much in line with the responsibility the Church has towards creation. Indeed, in his message for the World Day of Peace, which the Church celebrates on the first day of every new year, Pope Benedict XVI says that the Church considers it her duty to exercise this responsibility in public life, in order to protect earth, water and air as gifts that God the Creator meant for everyone, and, above all, to save mankind from the danger of self-destruction.