Last Updated on Monday, 31 January, 2022 at 2:36 pm by Andre Camilleri
Local councils can apply for funding for green projects through a new scheme by Ambjent Malta.
This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia, who urged local councils to come forward with environmental project proposals aimed at improving urban greening, thus contributing to the positive wellbeing of the local citizens.
He said that Ambjent Malta will consider the best green initiatives, irrespective of whether they are large or small projects, and has €700,000 for funding available for this scheme.
Minister Farrugia explained that this fund is part of an ongoing plan to improve the urban spaces of Malta and Gozo, as well as incorporating greenery and sustainable principles. He said that urban greening includes public landscaping and urban environmental projects that create mutually beneficial relationships between city dwellers and their environments.
“The greening of cities leads to positive impact in several aspects, which include combatting air and noise pollution, soaking up rainwater that may otherwise create flooding and creating a habitat for local wildlife. Such projects contribute to the improvement in wellbeing, physical and mental health, as well as offsetting carbon emissions created in the local area which would otherwise contribute to climate change,” the Minister said.
Urban greening projects include the planting of trees and shrubs planting, green walls, green roofs, green pillars and benches, greening of squares and roads in urban areas, installation of new irrigation systems, parks, and landscaped green areas.
“We need everyone – from individuals to NGOs and the local government – to join us in implementing this vision for a greener Malta. While it is important to safeguard and sustain our rural areas, countryside and wilder areas, it is equally if not more important to improve the places in which we live, work, and spend most of our time in. It is in this way that we will begin to truly address the issue of quality of life,” the Minister said, encouraging local councils to tap into this fund as well as others available to them through Ambjent Malta and others, including the Planning Authority’s Development Planning Fund.
Present for the press conference were Ambjent Malta Director Herman Galea and President for the Local Councils Association Mario Fava.
To assist the local councils, Ambjent Malta will conduct an online seminar to provide more information and will be available to assist as necessary.
Admissible/eligible applications received will be assessed by a selection committee appointed by Ambjent Malta. The short-listed applications will be based on set criteria. More information is available on https://environment.gov.mt/en/ambjentmalta/Pages/lcUrbanGreeningScheme2022.aspx
The scheme will remain open until Monday, 28th Februrary 2022.
