You have a challenge ahead of you which I sincerely hope you win so that you can have a better life in the future,” said President George Vella while addressing secondary school students during an event related to the CORALLO project on the appreciation of natural heritage through technology at the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina.
In his speech, the President mentioned environmental crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss. “Our generation, the one preceding yours, will not leave you a valuable legacy,” stated the President while mentioning the invasion of plastic in all the seas. The President remarked that over the past 300 years, through unsustainable industry and policies, we have created environmental emergencies and exploited the sea without much thought. The problem with plastic and microplastics is that they are increasingly damaging the ecosystem. If this reality is not seriously addressed, it will be the cause of many diseases and injustices for those already suffering from the negative effects of climate change, warned the President.
The President told the students that their participation in the CORALLO project is the first link in the sustainability chain and he expressed the hope that they will continue to embrace this theme for years to come. “One of the biggest problems, as you know, is climate change,” added the President, while encouraging more young people to continue their academic studies in sectors related to environmental protection.
“The solutions to our problems are in the study of the sciences,” stated the President while noting the huge development rate of science. He added that the role of this educational field in society is as valuable as that of health, law, financial services, and other professions that perhaps attract the most attention.
The President praised the use of digital technology in the National Museum of Natural History and thanked the University of Malta, through Professor Alan Deidun, for designing and managing the CORALLO project, since 2020, and also thanked the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and Heritage Malta, who are the other Maltese partners in the project.
