Emissions to be cut deeply by 2015

Malta is expected to achieve a substantial cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2015, mainly due to investment in the new plant at the Delimara power station and in waste treatment projects, according to new projections by the EU’s Environment Agency.

The island’s emissions reached a peak in 2008, with more than 3.1 million tons released into the atmosphere. Since then – and for the first time in nearly a decade ­– there was a reduction of five per cent in 2009 and emission levels stayed stable in 2010 despite the pick-up in economic activity.

According to the EEA, while in 2008 Malta was producing 7.3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per capita, in 2010 this figure was slashed to 6.9 tons.

The best emissions-savings are being made in the electricity generation sector, which contributes 65 per cent of the island’s total. While this sector was producing more than two million tons of CO2 annually up to 2008, projections show that this is expected to be cut by half, to just one million tons, by 2015 and then stay on a declining path till 2020.

On the other hand, transport – the second biggest culprit of greenhouse gas emissions in Malta – is expected to increase its share, although only slightly.

“During the past 30 years we have seen Malta’s emissions increase by a staggering 39 per cent due to the expansion of the economy and consequently more demand for energy,” an EEA official told The Times.

“However, a downward trend could be observed since 2008 and we are expecting Malta to cut substantially its emissions once the new extension of the Delimara Power Station is switched on,” he said.

According to EU rules, all the 27 member states are expected to reduce their emissions by 20 per cent over their 1990 levels by 2020. Subject to there being no changes to the planned projects – cleaner power generation and better waste management – Malta is expected to reach this target comfortably, according to the EEA.

Apart from electricity generation (65 per cent), transport was the second biggest culprit of emissions in 2010, contributing 19 per cent. This was followed by waste generation (7.6 per cent) and agriculture (four per cent).

Throughout the EU, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.4 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, as many countries returned to economic growth following the 2009 recession and a colder winter led to an increased demand for heating.

However, the increase in emissions was contained by a move from coal to natural gas and the sustained strong growth in renewable energy generation.

Since 1990, total EU average emissions have declined by 15.5 per cent, putting the EU on track to reach its 2020 targets.