Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544245
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2026 COMMERCIAL BOV celebrates Earth Hour 2026 BANK of Valletta joined mil- lions of people and organisa- tions worldwide to mark the 20th edition of Earth Hour, a global initiative organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness about climate change and environmental is- sues impacting people across the world. On Saturday, 28th March, the Bank contributed by symboli- cally switching off non-essential lights for 60 minutes, from 20:30 to 21:30, at some of its main premises. This supports the Bank's cur- rent programme to implement sustainable initiatives across the organisation. In recent years, the Bank has introduced sever- al such initiatives, including in- stalling solar panels at branch- es, introducing electric vehicle charging stations at the Bank's Head Office, using second-class water at the BOV Centre thanks to two large reservoirs with a total capacity of approximately 600,000 litres, and installing in- telligent lighting across various premises. Other initiatives in- clude focused campaigns such as the Bring Your Own Con- tainer campaign and dedicated BCRS waste bins at the Bank's Head Office, Volunteering Day activities supporting clean ups across the island, and other CSR activities held throughout the year. Bank of Valletta continues to invest significantly in incorpo- rating sustainable features into its projects to ensure the high- est levels of efficiency. This in- cludes wall and roof insulation, double-glazing windows, intelli- gent lighting, renewable energy sources such as PV systems, and efficient Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, which are now inte- grated with a Building Manage- ment System (BMS) at the BOV Centre and newly refurbished branches and offices. This will optimise energy consumption by 15–30%, whilst ensuring em- ployees' comfort through smart automation. The BMS uses sen- sors, controllers, and real-time monitoring to control heating, ventilation, and air condition- ing, enabling proactive, da- ta-driven management. For the ongoing Żejtun and Qormi Branch projects, the Bank has commissioned studies modelling the carbon footprint before and after refurbishment, with the initial findings indi- cating that both projects are expected to reduce up to 100 tonnes of carbon annually, com- pared to the present situation. Ernest Agius, BOV Chief Op- erations Officer, stated that the Bank's participation in Earth Hour aligns with its Environ- mental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and reinforces its role as a responsible corpo- rate organisation and supports its role as a founding member of the Malta ESG Alliance. "At Bank of Valletta, our commit- ment goes beyond this yearly symbolic important gesture. Environmental sustainability is among our top strategic priori- ties, and we remain committed to leading by example from an ESG perspective by integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our operations." EN: Creative Europe MEDIA strand celebrates 35 years of support 2026 marks a special year for the MEDIA strand of the EU's Creative Europe programme as it celebrates 35 years support- ing and promoting Europe's film and audiovisual sector. Throughout these 35 years, the MEDIA strand has greatly con- tributed to the development, distribution and promotion of European works, in the context of an extremely challenging and dynamic digital environment, covering film, TV, video games and XR alongside new forms of support. Its key objectives are to en- courage cooperation across the entire value chain of the film and audiovisual industry as well as at an EU level, allow start-ups and SMEs operating in the field to scale up and spread Europe- an content further globally. In so doing, the MEDIA Strand aims to nurture upcoming tal- ent in the sector by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and best practices amongst the key players of the industry. Sup- porting innovation to meet the changing market demand and trends, the MEDIA Strand supports cultural diversity and competitiveness, all the while ensuring the engagement with audiences of all ages, especially the younger generations. For 2026, MEDIA will contin- ue to support the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual content, while adapting its actions to re- flect industry changes. Priorities remain focused on digital inno- vation, environmental sustaina- bility, inclusion, gender equality and audience engagement. Among the calls current- ly open are calls for TV and online content, funding for high-quality animation, fiction and documentary works, as well as calls for Films on the move, boosting cross-border distribu- tion of non-national films, and Networks of European Cine- mas, contributing to raise and increase the interest of the au- dience for non-national films including through the develop- ment of activities for young cin- emagoers. Deadlines for some of these calls fall as early as April 2026, with others scheduled through- out 2026. The total MEDIA budget is expected to exceed €80 million, ensuring strong support for projects across Eu- rope. Creative Europe Desk Malta plays a vital role in helping local stakeholders navigate these op- portunities. The desk provides one-to-one guidance, informa- tion sessions and networking opportunities to ensure that Maltese creatives can position their projects competitively on the European stage. With Creative Europe Desk – MEDIA funding, Maltese pro- ducers and creatives have the chance not only to realise their artistic vision but also to show- case Malta's audiovisual talent to wider audiences. For more information and personalised support, applicants are encour- aged to contact Creative Europe Desk Malta and its Facebook page, or visit the official Crea- tive Europe Official page.