Dust, noise, traffic pollution and unbridled construction will come under the spotlight this week in a concerted effort to convince policymakers to urgently address serious environmental concerns that are negatively impacting people’s lives.

A panel of experts will debate these issues in a call for action during the second national conference on wellbeing – Environmental Health and Wellbeing.

“This isn’t a tree-hugging initiative; this is about encouraging the authorities to safeguard our wellbeing through better management. This isn’t about protecting future generations, but protecting our lives and health now,” said Dr Marie Briguglio, a university lecturer in environmental economics.

Dr Briguglio, who will be chairing the morning conference on Wednesday, the 5th of April, will highlight the intimate relationship between exposure to pollution and wellbeing, and urging the panel to address the health implications and threat of space encroachment.

Prof. Hilary Bambrick, a renowned climate epidemiologist and lecturer at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, will be specifically targeting climate change and questioning whether the island is prepared to adapt to increasing climate variability.

The conference, being held at the Verdala Palace, is organised by the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and its Forum for Active Community Engagement (FACE), in collaboration with the Australian High Commission in Malta.

“At a time when we are rapidly and irreversibly losing open spaces to construction and cars; when the Malta most people know and live in is a congested, polluted, building and parking site; when walking anywhere has become difficult if not downright dangerous; any organisation that focuses on wellbeing cannot ignore what is happening,” Dr Briguglio said.

“We also cannot ignore the fact that while pollution impacts us all, it impacts the most vulnerable of our society more. Registering a budget surplus is good news, so let’s focus on investing in the environment and our health – we know how it impacts on wellbeing, so no excuses. We can afford it,” she added.

The experts on the panel of Wednesday’s conference include: Prof. Victor Axiak, a scholar and Environmental and Resources Authority chairman; Prof. Alfred Vella, University of Malta rector and a chemistry scholar in the field; Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, who is an academic and medical doctor and who has worked extensively in the environmental health policy fields; Dr Censu Caruana, who lectures at the university’s Centre for Environmental Education and Research; and Ms Esther Sant, from the Action for Breast Cancer Foundation.

The conference will take place between 9.00am and 11.00am. The public is invited to participate with their views and experiences.

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