HSBC renews support for <i>Ekoskola</i>

The HSBC Cares for the Environment Fund (HCEF) has renewed its support to the Ekoskola programme for the next three years, committing almost €40,000 (Lm17,172). The agreement with the programme co-ordinators Nature Trust (Malta) and the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment was signed last Wednesday at St Joseph School, Sliema.

Nature Trust (Malta) president Vince Attard said: "It is very encouraging to have the support of the private sector in such programmes. As an NGO it is sometimes difficult to implement such high-level programmes without the proper support of corporates like HSBC, which has more than once shown its green credentials in our islands becoming a champion of environmental conservation.

He said that the programme costs Nature Trust (Malta) over €25,000 a year to run, and he hoped that local industry would follow the bank's example and contribute more to improve our local heritage and environment. "Without the help of HSBC, the Ministry for Education, the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment, and Wasteserv, the Ekoskola programme would have not been possible," he said.

St Joseph School is one of the 18 new schools participating in the programme this year. The Ekoskola programme was introduced in Malta in 2002, with six pilot schools. The number of participating schools now stands at 72. So far, four schools have secured the International Green Flag Award, a prestigious accreditation for the schools' environmental practices. Schools mainly focus on waste reduction and separation, energy and water saving, composting and nature protection.

Eco-school, an international programme run by the Foundation for Environmental Education with over 42 participating countries, aims to mobilise schools to encourage students adopt an active role in environmental decision-making in their school and community.

Apart from honouring environmental respect from an early age and fostering an education to mitigate the negative impact on the environment, every participating school aims to receive the coveted International Green Flag and work to sustain the standards required to keep the award.

HSBC chief operating officer Sally Robson said: "Looking after the environment today will help us deliver a sound and healthy earth to future generations. We owe our children all the support they need to become aware and sensitive that their actions are responsible for the damage or otherwise to nature. Let the next generation be much more sensitive than the present one where environment is concerned."

Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment George Pullicino said it was amazing that the Ekoskola programme has grown exponentially in a matter of four years. "The Ekoskola programme drove the environmental agenda straight into our classrooms and has turned our children into ambassadors for the environment in their families. All this was happening while the environment was gathering an increasing priority in our society," he said.

Referring to Saturday's donation of €30,000 for the landscaping of the former Magħtab landfill, Mr Pullicino thanked HSBC for believing in and supporting Government in its pro-environment agenda.