The environment is one of the three pillars on which the Nationalist Party has built its policy, its vision for the country’s future. The other two areas are education and the economy, two equally important sectors but which probably do not lead to as much political controversy as the environment does.

Environment awareness is a relatively new phenomenon, but it is positive to see that as time goes by, more and more people are becoming conscious of the need to safeguard the planet on which we live – for ourselves and for future generations too.

Today, it is hard for any project to go through without someone finding an objection, be it because some historical site is to be touched, or because an old house is to be pulled down, or also because more of our countryside is going to be eaten up. Many complaints are justified, but many others are not, and this is why there is an authority that oversees any planned development.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority – and the bodies that preceded it – was set up by the government in a bid to ensure that development does not impinge on the environment. It was set up to control what had previously been a jungle of development; whether it has managed to achieve the targets set is debatable, and this is why the government has set in motion a reform that is planned to make Mepa more efficient in its functions and obligations.

Environmentalists say that there is over-development; entrepreneurs believe otherwise. It is not always easy to find the balance between protecting the environment and allowing the kind of development that a forward-looking country needs to remain competitive.

Someone once said that if Mepa existed at the time of the Knights of St John, Grand Master La Valette would not have been given permission to build what is now our capital city on Mount Sciberras. They were different times, because Malta 500 years ago was mostly barren land and there was so much that needed to be done to protect the islands from the enemy. But when one looks back it is clear that even Valletta was built because there was a need for it – and no-one batted an eyelid that Mount Sciberras was going to be “spoiled” with the building of a city.

It is not being implied that we should have more Vallettas built on pristine land, far from it. But at the same time it must be admitted that today development does keep Malta going from an economic point of view. At the same time, the environment must be protected and this is why this balance between the two opposing forces must be found.

This is also why Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi did not shy away from saying, during a breakfast meeting this week, that Malta’s environmental policy must be ambitious, but at the same time “everything comes at a price”.

One of the examples he gave was that consumers are paying for oil less than what the real price is. And if we are to go for alternative energy that is less harsh on the environment, it does not necessarily follow that it will be cheaper than the one we are paying for now.

There are other factors in the equation. For example, environmentalists are pushing for the use of wind energy. But then will they be the first to complain that the wind turbines will be an eyesore, whether they are placed on land or offshore?

This is the price that Dr Gonzi was referring to. Something has to give. While, as much as possible, the environment should be safeguarded and protected, the country needs to move on.