Losing weight, doing more exercise, cutting down on drinking, stopping smoking, being more pleasant to our neighbours… these are just some of the resolutions that would have been going through people’s minds in recent days.

Good intentions… but hell is indeed paved with them. Most fall by the wayside within days, if actioned at all, and many of us go on with life much as we did before until the next set of new year’s resolutions comes round. But it would benefit us all if we use the start of the year as an opportunity to improve.

What could Joseph Muscat improve upon? Without going into the merits of more gym – who could not do with that? – it would be nice to think he will be kinder to the environment in the coming 12 months.

Let’s be clear about one thing: development is not a bad thing in itself. Quite the contrary, as the name implies it is one way in which a country progresses.

Labour has made the economy its prio­rity and has not missed an opportunity to plough money into it – though with the obvious shortcomings, such as inefficient or inequitable tax collection.

The Labour government has been allowing development to happen at the expense of precious land in this country, at the expense of people’s well-being (constant construction is a potential health hazard) and at the expense of aesthetics

Yet the Labour government has been allowing development to happen at the expense of precious land in this country, at the expense of people’s well-being (constant construction is a potential health hazard) and at the expense of aesthetics.

‘Make concrete while the sun blurs people’s eyes’, the Developers’ Association presi­dent said – or words to that effect – and the result has been rather tragic. It is the Prime Minister who has the power to do something about this and instil a sense of control.

What is Simon Busuttil’s political new year’s resolution likely to be? The environment. Why? Because it is the primary factor that can get him within shouting distance of an electoral victory.

Much as the Nationalist Party bangs on about poor governance – and is right to do so – while the economy performs and the Muscat administration remains relatively new, it is unlikely to make many inroads with the people that matter: voters.

But the environment is an altogether different animal. Not only are a growing number of people passionate about it – the huge crowd at last June’s demonstration against the Żonqor ‘university’ development was testament to that – but it is the one issue that the Opposition leader can distinguish himself from the Prime Minister and come out smelling of roses. While he must take great care not to alienate businessmen, Dr Busuttil would do well to continue in this vein.

How about the Archbishop? Shutting up is clearly not going to be one of his resolutions – thank goodness for that – and nor perhaps are visits to the gym.

But the environment is an issue he is likely to argue passionately in favour of, as he has done since he was appointed a year ago. His voice will be most welcome, as he must also navigate the tricky issues likely to be faced by the Church in the months and years ahead. Staying true to himself while at the same time showing a compassionate face is going to be one of his major challenges.

So where does that leave the rest of us? What we need to do, more than anything, is strive to make Malta a better place – by looking after what we have (our environment is an integral part of that) and improving the way we do things. That is certainly a resolution worth keeping.

Happy New Year.