Malta to miss air pollutant targets

Malta will miss half its legally binding emissions' targets this year, pumping almost 50 per cent more sulphur dioxide than permissible into the atmosphere, according to European Environmental Agency projections.

Of the four targets established by the EU's National Emissions Ceilings Directive, Malta is expected to overshoot its emissions in two categories of dangerous air pollutants - nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide.

The agency's projections are based on preliminary reporting of 2009 and 2010.

In the case of sulphur dioxide, Malta will be the only member state not to reach its 2010 target. In both cases Malta will be among the worst performers, surpassing its targets by more than 10 per cent of the limit set for Malta.

On the other hand, Malta is expected to be in line with its targets in the other two categories: non-methane volatile organic compounds and ammonia.

"Malta has made a lot of progress since joining the EU when it comes to controlling its emissions and managed to reduce its emissions across the board over the years," an agency official told The Times.

"However, more still has to be done as according to our projections Malta will still be failing to abide by its obligations under the directive by the end of this year. The situation with regard to sulphur dioxide is quite serious as Malta will be exceeding its limits substantially," the official said.

The release of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere is normally associated with the burning of fuel in combustion plants used to produce energy, while nitrogen oxides are more related to road transport pollution particularly from car fuel.

In Malta's case, Enemalta's power stations in Marsa and Delimara are considered to be the two major contributors to emissions of dangerous pollutants. All four specified pollutants harm human health and the environment by contributing to the formation of ozone and particulate matter and leading to acidification and eutrophication (an increase of chemical nutrients in the ecosystem).

EU member states must meet the directive's ceilings by 2010 to deliver the health and environmental benefits agreed upon.

Malta will not be the only member state failing to meet its targets - according to the agency's study almost half the EU is lagging behind. Eleven countries are set to exceed their ceilings by significant amounts, some missing nitrogen dioxide targets by more than 40 per cent.

Member states have the greatest difficulty meeting the emission limits for nitrogen oxides. Only 16 expect to achieve their ceilings, with road transport bearing most of the blame.

The road transport sector contributed to around 40 per cent of total EU27 emissions of nitrogen oxide in 2008 and, although its overall emissions have fallen since 1990, the reduction has not always been as substantial as originally anticipated.

This is because the sector has grown more than expected and the fact that vehicle emission standards have not always delivered the foreseen level of nitrogen oxide reductions.