Cap. 549 Art. 4Duty of Government to protect the environment.

(1) It shall be the duty of the Government to protect the environment for the benefit of the present and future generations and to that effect:

(a) to manage the environment in a sustainable manner by integrating and giving due consideration to environmental concerns in decisions and policies on land use, socio-economic, educational and other matters;

(b) to take such preventive and remedial measures as may be necessary to address and abate the problem of pollution and any other form of environmental degradation in Malta and beyond, in accordance with the polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle;

(c) to collaborate with other governments and entities in the protection of the global environment;

(d) to disseminate information on the environment and to facilitate the participation of the public in decisions that affect the environment;

(e) to apply scientific and technical knowledge and resources in determining matters that affect the environment;

(f) to ensure the sustainable management of wastes, to promote the reduction of waste and the proper use, re-use and recovery of matter;

(g) to safeguard biological diversity;

(h) to combat all forms of pollution and environmental degredation;

(i) to consider the environment as the common heritage and common concern of mankind;

(j) to provide incentives leading to a higher level of environmental protection; and

(k) to promote research and development in the environmental field by different institutions.

(2) In the course of its daily responsibilities, it shall be the duty of every Government entity to implement the objectives and provisions of this Act and its subsidiary legislation. In doing so, Government entities shall also have regard to national environmental targets when carrying out their respective plans, programmes and projects.