Leader of the Nationalist Party Bernard Grech appealed to the government to support the PN's bill that plans to introduce "The Right to the Environment" as a fundamental human right, during parliament.

The PN tabled this bill, which would amend Malta's constitution, in Parliament earlier this month after the public consultation period ended and the bill received the support of the PN parliamentary group.

Grech was speaking during the second reading of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) bill that would see public involvement in decision-making processes. Both sides of the House voted in favour of the second reading of this bill on Wednesday.

The PN will vote in favour of anything that may help to strengthen the environment in Malta, Grech said.

However, he noted how the PN had presented an "almost identical" private members bill around a year and a half ago, which the government voted against.

PN Whip Robert Cutajar told The Malta Independent on Sunday that the government must acknowledge a strikingly similar bill which he had proposed in 2021 for more transparency in decisions made by the ERA.

Moving forward, Grech pointed out how many people were suffering from a poor environment which will also be affecting future generations.

"The environment deserves to be treated more maturely than the way politicians running currently the country treat it," Grech said.

When mentioning the bill that will introduce the environment as a fundamental right, Grech said that decisions need to be taken today that will affect future generations.

Grech explained how this bill affirms that every individual has the right to a clean and sustainable environment and everyone will have the ability to enforce a right to a clean environment.

"We give you the tools so that, with us, you can be the guardians of the environment."

This bill will not only defend people's right to a clean environment but also an investment in sustainable development.