Maltese are “the most worried” EU citizens when it comes to the impact of “urbanisation” on the environment, according to a recent survey.

However, despite growing concerns and daily reports of new developments sprouting across the island, the majority of those interviewed still felt the government was doing enough to protect their surroundings.

Almost half complained about traffic jams, lack of green spaces and overdevelopment

According to the findings of a Eurobarometer survey published in Brussels yesterday, the Maltese perceive air pollution, increasing waste generation and urbanisation as the most taxing environmental problems.

Compared to the rest of the EU, urban problems are most highlighted in Malta, with 46 per cent of those surveyed complaining about traffic jams, lack of green spaces and overdevelopment.

The survey of 500 people, conducted in Malta by Misco last May, also shows that while the recent reduction in utility rates had a positive effect on people’s pockets it may not have had the same impact on the environment and energy consumption. It indicates that while, in 2011, three out of every four surveyed had said they were trying to cut water and energy consumption to protect the environment while reducing their bills, the number adopting the same measure shrunk by 10 per cent last May.

While, in 2011, 75 per cent had said they were making an effort to reduce water and electricity consumption, last May only 65 per cent said they were continuing with their efforts.

According to the findings, this goes against the EU trend, where people are becoming more conscious about the need to waste less energy.

Asked to say whether they felt the government was doing enough to protect the environment, 52 per cent agreed it was doing “the right amount”, up 21 per cent over three years earlier. At the same time, 40 per cent said the government was not doing enough.

On a general EU level, the survey’s results show that, despite the economic crisis, concern among Europeans about the environment did not diminish.

In an overwhelming consensus, 95 per cent of the 28,000 citizens interviewed said that protecting the environment was important to them personally and many believed more could be done.

In Malta, the number of those saying the environment was important to them rose to 99 per cent, the second highest in the EU after Sweden (100 per cent).