A pledge to commit to gender equality and a focus on human rights have piqued the interest of environmentalists.

While the Throne Speech neglected to hit a few items from Greenrock’s wish list, Jonathan Starling said there were certainly things he welcomed, providing the potential for “constructive conversations” in the future.

Mr Starling, the charity’s newly installed executive director, said: “While not always seen as a sustainability issue, the focus on improving policies relating to mental health and disabilities is welcome, especially if this includes a focus on creating a more inclusive and accessibly built environment and public transport infrastructure. This contributes to a more inclusive society, allowing all members of society to participate fully, which has benefits from a social, economic and public health perspective and, with the demographic changes we’ll see in terms of the senior population in the near future, is just good sense going forward.

“The addition to gender equality on the government boards and committees, that’s an interesting thing.

“We know from the evidence-based research that when you have government boards and committees — and this includes corporate boards — that are more diverse and more representative of society, they tend to lead to greater sustainable decision-making.”

He also made a connection to reference of amending the national pension scheme.

“There’s a conversation that we look forward to having with the Government,” Mr Starling said. “The possibility of ensuring that pensions are done in a sustainable way. And I mean that in terms of divesting funds from fossil fuel industries and weapons industries, which I do not consider being a sustainable industry.”

He gave as an example a Bill passed in California two months ago to illustrate the “green pensions” movement.

It requires two of the state’s largest pension plans to divest their holding from thermal coal as part of a legislative push to address climate change.

“We’d certainly love to see pensions divested from fossil fuels, in particular, and invested instead in environmentally friendly investments,” Mr Starling said. “We recognise this is no mean feat.

“One question that I would like to know is, does that extend to them building a public transport or transport in general and a built environment that is more accessible and inclusive to all?

“Because if you want a sustainable economy, a sustainable society, you have to include everyone, and right now the system that we have, it throws up barriers to people — especially the physically disabled and seniors. They’re not allowed to participate in public life as much because they simply can’t get around.

“Our bus system is not friendly for people in wheelchairs or on crutches. It’s not even friendly for people who have baby carriages. So, if we were to build that, that would be great. And especially with the growing population.”

It was announced in the Throne Speech that the number of elderly in Bermuda is set to nearly double over the next 20 years.

“As people age, they tend to be differently abled and that’s something we need to tackle now,” Mr Starling said.