Today activities marking Environment Day, to be celebrated on Sunday, start with the launch of a pilot project aimed to collect used domestic oil and convert it into bio-diesel. The project will initially involve some 20,000 households in the Sliema, St Julian’s, Naxxar, Swieqi, Ta’ Xbiex and Gzira areas, but it is hoped that it will be extended on a national scale within a few months.

This year, the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry thought it fit to mark Environment Day with a week of events, rather than just one or two on 5 June. The aim behind this is to make the people more aware of the need to protect and safeguard the environment, for ourselves and for future generations.

The activities are also varied in order to include as many aspects of the environment as possible, as well as several people from all walks of life and areas around Malta and Gozo.

Some might believe that a week of activities to mark Environment Day could be an exaggeration. We, on the other hand, believe that one week is not enough because we need to keep hammering into people’s minds the need to see that the environmental damage that has been done over the years is checked and, if at all possible, that a reversal of trends is started.

In spite of the fact that campaigns have been held for several years in order to have a greater awareness about the environment and the fact that, if we do not take care of it, we will suffer the consequences, little seems to have improved.

What we need is a change of culture, a change of mentality, and this is why it is extremely positive that environment initiatives involving schoolchildren have been launched and enhanced over the years. While it is nearly impossible to educate an adult not to throw an empty packet of cigarettes or used tissues out of the car – unless perhaps if fines started mounting up – it is easier to educate a young boy or girl not to dispose of empty packets of crisps wrongly.

This is just one simple example.

Talking about fines, it was announced last year that green wardens were to be introduced to, as much as possible, monitor the situation and book people who, in one way or the other, cause damage to the environment. These people were supposed to have been employed earlier this year, but it will take a bit longer than that because the government felt it would not be wise to rush matters.

It is better to have all the administration in place and the people well-informed about the new scenario before the system is introduced. This is all good, but on the other hand the government should not wait very much longer.

Let’s face it, if people start being fined for dumping waste in the countryside, then others will think twice before they do so. We believe that we have become more disciplined on the roads because of the local wardens, and we would like to hope that we would become more disciplined environmentally, once these green wardens are employed.

One good step that has already been taken is the appointing of green leaders in ministries. This shows the government’s own commitment towards the environment, although it must be said that these leaders are still finding their feet and their effectiveness or otherwise will be seen in the years to come.

Let us not forget that the environment belongs to each and every one of us and, as such, we should all make our small contribution to safeguard it – for ourselves and also for future generations. What we sow now will be reaped in the future.

Unfortunately, we have sowed badly in the past, at a time when the environment was not a priority. The fact that we have realised our past mistakes is a step in the right direction. What we need now is, first of all, to stop committing errors. Secondly, we all need to change and take better care of our surroundings.