The Interdiocesan Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development on Friday expressed deep concern over the widespread electricity disruptions, warning that they are far more than an inconvenience as they are endangering health and undermining human dignity.
The Church's Commission notes that families are enduring sleepless nights in extreme heat, older persons and those with chronic illnesses are facing heightened health risks, and many workers are reporting for duty after nights without adequate rest. The Commission added that particular attention must also be given to vulnerable groups, including detainees and migrants living in facilities where soaring temperatures can have especially serious consequences.
Mark Cachia, President of the Commission, said this situation must be treated as a national priority. "Malta cannot afford to remain trapped in a cycle of recurring emergencies followed by temporary fixes. While we recognise the tireless work of technical personnel restoring power, emergency repairs cannot become the country's long-term strategy. People have the right to reliable essential services and to the assurance that Malta's infrastructure is capable of meeting today's realities and tomorrow's challenges."
According to the Commission, this crisis did not emerge overnight. It pointed to population growth, rising energy demand, expanding economic activity, record tourism and increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves and below-average rainfall as pressures that have been evident for years. What has been missing, it said, is planning that anticipates the current and future pressures rather than a response that only follows systems failure.
The Commission stated that climate change is no longer a distant or theoretical concern as it is already reshaping life in Malta, straining infrastructure, threatening public health and exposing the country's vulnerability to extreme weather.
The Commission said it believes this moment should be a turning point, and called for a serious national conversation about climate resilience, energy security and the future Malta wants to build; one that goes beyond identifying the immediate causes of the current outages.
It said that conversation should bring together government, business, civil society, academia and technical experts to: strengthen energy and water infrastructure, improve emergency preparedness, accelerate investment in renewable energy and innovation, expand the planting and protection of trees and other green infrastructure to reduce the urban heat island effect, develop effective contingency plans, and better protect vulnerable people during periods of extreme heat.
The Commission also highlighted that this conversation must confront a broader question: whether Malta's current model of economic growth and development remains sustainable in the face of increasing population pressures, rising energy demand, the realities of a changing climate and the need to safeguard the wellbeing and quality of life of present and future generations.
"The country needs the foresight, courage and political will to make the long-term decisions that will strengthen resilience and protect the common good," concluded the Commission.
The Interdiocesan Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development was recently established by the Bishops of Malta and Gozo to promote the dignity of every human in matters relating to the economy and work, poverty and injustice, and the care of creation as our common home. More information is available at ihd.church.mt.