Politicians' silence at a Church's Environment Commission proposal for the setting up of a conjoint parliamentary group to become responsible for the environment and sustainable development was worrying, the commission said.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the feast of St Francis, the commission said that whenever it made suggestions for changes to the structure of power for the benefit of the people, no political party commented.

Such silence was worrying, it said.

The commission said it was a shame that the environment was regularly used by political parties for partisan aims turning the common good into rhetoric.

It promised to continue working so that the time would come when every Christian would realise his or her special responsibility towards the creation.

To do this, it would in the coming days, publish a detailed opinion on the national environmental policy.

It would also publish its reaction on the environmental education proposals as proposed in the national curriculum, currently under consultation.

The commission said it also planned to organise a national conference to help the sector understand what was keeping the country from making better use of water, land and buildings.

It wanted to hold part of the conference in Gozo so that it would study the economic, social and environmental limitations leading the average age of the residential population on this island to rise at an alarming rate.

It would also see how the desired sustainable development could attract new investment which respected the Gozitan environment.