Church commission concerned over widespread electricity disruptions

The church’s Interdiocesan Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development has voiced concern over Malta's widespread electricity disruptions.

The commission warned the outages are no longer merely an inconvenience but are endangering public health and undermining human dignity.

It said prolonged power cuts are leaving families to endure sleepless nights during extreme heat, while older people and those living with chronic illnesses face increased health risks. It also warned that many workers are reporting for duty after nights without adequate rest.

The commission stressed particular attention must be given to vulnerable groups, including detainees and migrants living in facilities where soaring temperatures can have especially serious consequences.

Commission President Mark Cachia said the situation must be treated as a national priority, arguing that Malta cannot continue relying on emergency responses to recurring infrastructure failures.

"Malta cannot afford to remain trapped in a cycle of recurring emergencies followed by temporary fixes," Cachia said. "While we recognise the tireless work of technical personnel restoring power, emergency repairs cannot become the country's long-term strategy. People have the right to reliable essential services and to the assurance that Malta's infrastructure is capable of meeting today's realities and tomorrow's challenges."

The commission said the current crisis had been years in the making, pointing to sustained population growth, rising energy demand, expanding economic activity, record tourism and increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, coupled with below-average rainfall.

It argued that these pressures have long been evident, but that planning has failed to anticipate the demands being placed on the country's infrastructure, with action instead coming only after systems fail.

The commission also warned climate change is no longer a distant or theoretical issue, saying it is already reshaping life in Malta by placing greater strain on infrastructure, threatening public health and exposing the country's vulnerability to increasingly extreme weather.

It said the current situation should serve as a turning point and called for a broad national discussion on climate resilience, energy security and Malta's long-term future, extending beyond the immediate causes of the present outages.

According to the commission, such a discussion should bring together government, businesses, civil society, academia and technical experts to strengthen energy and water infrastructure, improve emergency preparedness, accelerate investment in renewable energy and innovation, expand the planting and protection of trees and other green infrastructure to help reduce the urban heat island effect, develop effective contingency plans and strengthen protections for vulnerable people during periods of extreme heat.

The commission also said the debate must address a broader question: whether Malta's current model of economic growth and development remains sustainable in light of increasing population pressures, rising energy demand, the realities of climate change and the need to safeguard the wellbeing and quality of life of both present and future generations.

"The country needs the foresight, courage and political will to make the long-term decisions that will strengthen resilience and protect the common good," the commission said.