Environmental education should be included in curriculum - KSU

The environment policy committee of the University Students' Council has identified five major areas that are in need of urgent attention - the natural environment, the marine environment, traffic, waste and energy.

The committee, set up in the summer of 2001 by KSU's social policy commission, has drawn up a policy based on the concept of sustainability in order to ensure that future generations continue to enjoy their environment.

The policy concludes that the public has the right to be appropriately informed, achieved by means of thorough information resulting from a higher investment in scientific-environmental research.

Furthermore, the committee said it believed that it was crucial for environmental education to be included in the national minimum curriculum.

It said government consultation with environment-related NGOs proved to be successful in the establishment of the waste management strategy, and this document was further proof of the benefit of consulting such non-governmental organisations.

It praised the proposed initiatives aimed at improving the environment, such as waste separation at source, the studies detailing the feasibility of wind-generated energy, the replacement of hospital incineration by autoclaving at the Mater Dei Hospital and sewage treatment, but said that there was still much to be desired.

Among other things, it cited the introduction of the polluter-pays principle; clamping down and reducing tuna penning; further control aimed at ensuring sustainable bird hunting and trapping; and clamping down on illegal building.

This document is the result of extensive research and consultation with experts and interest groups.

The committee is composed of president Marie-Louise Schembri, secretary general Alex Sciberras and members Alexei Pace (Light Pollution Awareness Group), Bernard Glanville (University Sciences Students Association), Caroline Gatt, David Gonzi (President, KSU), Justin Borg Barthet (Social Policy Commissioner, KSU), Justin Camilleri, Karl Ebejer, Nadine Grech (Greenpeace), Noelle Cardona, and Yakof Azzopardi.