The economy and the environment are the two central themes in today’s Editorials.
The Times of Malta refers to recent economic assessments by the IMF and credit rating agencies, noting that current forecasts for Malta are generally more benign than those for other European Union countries. The Editor notes that while some assessments are more negative than others, these highlight that some challenges related to economic sustainability were already there before the crisis. The Editorial therefore calls for soul searching and a long-term plan for the well-being of our society.
The Independent notes a change in the tide between the environment and rampant construction on our islands. It says that as the pandemic continued to take its toll, and people sought secluded locations to get some fresh air, many are beginning to better understand the importance of the environment, better understand nature’s beauty. This could bring with it a change in priorities for many people. It therefore calls for more stringent planning regulations to protect the green areas we have, and a stricter policy of creating green areas in built areas must be undertaken by the government.
L-Orizzont also focuses on the environment with an emphasis on air quality. It notes that European reports show that emissions have increased, despite best efforts to implement cleaner forms of energy. It calls on the authorities to provide incentives to secure alternative modes of transport which respect the environment.
In-Nazzjon argues that Government has been forced to take out massive loans to cover support for the Covid-crisis as a result of having substantially increased its recurrent expenditure, particularly by spending money on scandalous projects such as the hospital deal, as well as for increasing the public sector wage costs by 74 million euro in just a year.
