Opposition leader Joseph Muscat has appealed to environmental organisations to see in the Labour Party a trusted partner with whom they could build a relationship.

Speaking during a meeting with Nature Trust, Dr Muscat called for genuine consultation from the government, which, he said, was lacking.

Labour, he said, had introduced the principle of safeguarding the environment and sustainable development in its statute and was showing, through its work, that it was ready to take proactive initiatives for the benefit of the country.

On climate change, Dr Muscat said that although Malta did not have legal obligations, it was morally obliged to take the best decisions to address the sector. It did not make sense for an environmental issue on a road to be created in a European country, he said.

Nature Trust president Vince Attard said that Malta was facing major problems and the government had to address the land use problem.

Malta was lagging behind in the protection of sea life and the government should do something to solve the problem of illegal boreholes, transport and the separation of solid waste.

He also called for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.