Professor Alfred Vella, Professor Victor Axiak and Ms Mary Gaerty are the winners of the seventh edition of the Buonamico Award held at Sant’Anton Palace under the patronage of the President of Malta George Vella. The Buonamico Award, organised by the Environment and Resources Authority, honours personalities who, through their work, have made a significant contribution in the field of environmental protection and conservation.
In his speech, President George Vella stated that the most common element in the three winners is their insistence on the importance of education. “Through their educational work, new generations will be able to contribute to the biggest challenge that we are currently facing, both on a national and international level, that of climate change and environmental degradation. We are already feeling the consequences of this challenge,” said the President while warning that if we fail to reverse the damage, our children and grandchildren will face great challenges and upheaval.
In this context, the President stated that we should continue to talk about sustainability as much as possible and on its importance to protect and maintain the environment around us. Sustainability, said the President, must be respected and embraced at every level of our society, at every time and every moment.
Although it is good to recognise and reward the important role of individuals in society, the President said that we must equally stress the importance of establishing and overseeing the regulatory systems that are meant to protect and safeguard environmental sustainability in our country. The President warned that “we need strict laws and serious protection. All abuse and neglect must be stopped. I understand that urban development is necessary, but this must never be to the detriment of the natural environment”. He appealed to all the authorities concerned to be ever more vigilant and to better protect the remaining environmental heritage.
The President reiterated the need for strict observance of the regulations, and to take decisions in favour of environmental protection seriously because what we destroy today cannot be restored tomorrow, but what we nurture will continue to bear fruit. What we bury under buildings and tarmac will be lost forever. He said that due to the small size of our land, there is no room for error.
Photos: OPR
