Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546498
IN the first 100 days, since the Labour Party was trusted yet again by the electorate to run the country, , the government has focused on a wide range of na- tional priorities: The economy, the disability sector, investment in the police force, planning re- form and the list goes on. This is laudable but not accidental. Labour promised that in govern- ment it can make dreams turn into viable projects and that it will accompany everyone every step of the way. In the first 100 days, that promise started to de- liver in the form of decisions that touch communities everyday. One of the sectors of para- mount importance to every administration is the envi- ronment since this shapes the health of our localities. It af- fects us. It determines the leg- acy to be left to future genera- tions. Particularly in a country like Malta where every space matters, environmental deci- sions bear huge responsibility. Every government has a duty to protect and cultivate the envi- ronment around us. The Labour government has committed itself to investing in the environment and the en- ergy sector from the very start in 2013. It decided to make the landmark shift from heavy fuel oil to cleaner energy sources, changing the direction of Mal- ta's energy policy. It proved that Labour was not just taking decisions but doing so to im- prove the quality of life of its nation. It has continued this legacy by maintaining stable energy prices at times when international pressures to do otherwise were mounting. This was a challenge. In doing so, it protected families and businesses while continuing to treat environmental respon- sibility and energy security as national priorities. The legal notice approving White Rocks as a natural park was a milestone decision taken by Cabinet this summer. This area can now be safeguarded while public access, recrea- tional use and conservation are placed at the heart of its future. This decision matters in more ways than one. Pri- marily, this shows vision. The government will transform an abandoned area into an open space allowing families to en- joy quality time. Moreover, the commitment of making such space a national park confirms the commitment of looking be- yond short-term projects and investing in spaces to improve people's lives for years to come. The latest investment of around €1.4 million in the sec- ond phase of the Wied Incita project in Attard proves the ongoing commitment to turn- ing formerly neglected places into open spaces for everyone. The project forms part of a public park spanning around 90,000sq.m. It is worth recall- ing that land at Wied Incita had been allocated to a public-pri- vate consortium for landscap- ing in 2002, yet the space re- mained restricted and closed to the general public. Today, the direction is different. Pub- lic land is being opened up for public enjoyment. This is not a cosmetic change. It is a state- ment that environmental pol- icy must be felt in towns and villages, close to where people live, work and raise their fam- ilies. This same vision was visible in Attard this July, where a square was transformed through the Vjal Kulħadd initiative, which prioritises greener, more sus- tainable public spaces. Such projects reflect a consistent policy direction that commu- nities deserve cleaner, more welcoming places in which to live, meet and relax. This summer was also marked by start of works on the new Organic Processing Plant, a facility which will help double Malta's capacity to treat organ- ic waste. Expected to be com- pleted within two years, the project shows that the Labour government is not only focused on immediate improvements, but is also willing to deliver the long-term infrastructure required for a more sustaina- ble country and whose benefits will continue being felt beyond the current political cycle. This sharply contrasts with what happened under the Na- tionalist administration, nota- bly when land equivalent to the size of Siġġiewi was included in the development zone, weak- ening the very protection that should have safeguarded Mal- ta's countryside. The same po- litical mentality was visible in the case of Fort Manoel, where a historic national asset was handed over to private devel- opers. These examples matter because they expose two com- pletely different approaches to land, heritage and public space. After just 100 days, the ev- idence is clear: The Labour administration is placing the environment at the centre of national progress. From clean- er energy and stable prices to new parks, regenerated public spaces and modern waste-man- agement infrastructure, the government is proving that greener policies can also mean better communities and a more hopeful future. This is the pol- itics of delivery. The grass is greener under Labour because vision is being matched with action, and because decisions are being taken today that will shape a better Malta tomorrow. 10 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 SEPTEMBER 2026 OPINION The grass is greener under Labour because vision is being matched with action, and because decisions are being taken today that will shape a better Malta tomorrow. Environment takes centre stage in Labour's first 100 days Francesca Zarb Lawyer and Labour MP File photo