The public is being invited to provide feedback on a document that identifies the country's environmental issues in the run-up to the creation of a national policy by the middle of next year.

People are being asked whether the environment has been exploited beyond its limits, what is expected from the national policy and their views on the need to move towards a pollution tax, among others.

The questions in the document, called an Issues Paper, which has been drafted over recent months, mark the first phase of the "wide" consultation process that was launched yesterday by Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Mario de Marco, and is open for reactions from stakeholders until the end of September.

Dr de Marco is urging wide participation and is also organising a series of meetings with government entities and environmental NGOs.

Air, climate, land and fresh water are among the issues listed in the document, which delves into threatened cultural landscapes and the high level of vacant property. Other emerging concerns include the low level of awareness of radiation and Malta's preparedness for a disaster.

The first consultation phase should culminate in a conference, which will be followed up by the identification of challenges, opportunities and the economic impact of addressing the issues identified, before the final drafting of the policy.

Dr de Marco said the country's environment was governed by around 200 EU directives, which impose 2,000 obligations. But the policy would identify and address what was specific to Malta.

In a reaction to the launch of the consultation process, Labour's spokesman for the environment Leo Brincat pointed out that, in reality, Malta was still far from reaching the minimum that was expected of it.

The Issues Paper can be accessed on www.tsdu.gov.mt/environment-nep. It sets consultation questions, which can be answered via e-mail on envpolicy.opm@gov.mt or sent to the NEP Coordination Office, Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.