The 2008 electoral programme of this Administration had given pride of place to the environment. The first full chapter following the introduction was dedicated entirely to the environment with a clear commitment to redress our environmental deficit. Three years on, several environmental initiatives have been taken. The most far-reaching, as I see it, were the schemes that helped families and businesses invest in energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy. But the jury is still out on whether the government has lived up to its environmental commitment. And time is not on its side.
...the (National Environment Policy) gives us an opportunity to refocus...- Simon Busuttil
Last week, a National Environment Policy document was published to take stock of the situation and to chart the way forward. It is a laudable initiative and it makes very interesting reading. Whereas a number of initiatives outlined in the document are already in the course of implementation, others are still in the pipeline.
Air quality is one area covered by the NEP. It is an area that I follow closely because it constitutes the single most important subject of complaints that I receive from constituents. I am not surprised.
On air quality, very important developments are under way.
Firstly, the Delimara power station extension due by next year will finally lead to the closing down of the Marsa power station. The closing down of the Marsa power station will, in one fell swoop, bring about a remarkable improvement in the quality of the air that we breathe, especially but not only for Marsa residents. For although the Delimara extension will still use heavy fuel oil (and this was criticised), it will still operate within EU air quality parameters and will, therefore, be a massive improvement on Marsa. Add to that the investment in an interconnector to the European energy grid (which should be in place by 2013) and the problem of air emissions from the energy sector should be, by and large, addressed.
Secondly, the introduction of the new public transport system last July has, from night to day, brought about what is most probably the single most important improvement in air quality that this country has seen in several years. Pity that the complaints on the routes and the efficiency of the service overshadowed the breath of fresh air that the Euro V-powered Arriva buses brought to these isles. Let us now hope that the old buses, puffing out carcinogenic black dust straight into our lungs, will not be allowed back onto the streets without a major engine overhaul. Otherwise, the huge achievements that we have registered in the past two months in terms of air quality risk going down the drain.
Thirdly, air quality is also affected by dust pollution emitted from construction sites and by the construction industry, notably quarries. Although less threatening from a health point of view, construction dust remains public enemy number one for residents who live next to construction sites or next to construction plants and quarries. Ask residents in Naxxar, San Pawl tat-Tarġa, San Ġwann, Siġġiewi or Lija and you will get the picture. Amazingly, I also get complaints from Gozo where one would expect air quality not to be an issue.
The authorities seem to be addressing this issue in two ways.
With respect to construction sites, there are already regulations in place that govern the proper management of construction sites, including emissions of construction dust. But it is not clear whether these regulations cover all localities or just tourist zones and the responsibility to implement them has been intermittently shifted from authority to another for too long. That must explain why, to the dismay of many residents, notably in Sliema, the enforcement of these regulations does not come across as much of a priority.
In this regard, the NEP document is unconvincing when it states that construction sites will continue to be controlled through “education and enforcement”. It needs to be beefed up.
With respect to quarries and construction sites, Maltese law still did not cover them until recently when the prospect of imposing environmental permitting was introduced. This means that, in order to continue to operate, these enterprises must (finally) show that they are adequately respecting certain environmental standards, not least on dust emissions. If not, their operations may be blocked.
Now, on this score the NEP document is rather disappointing because it promises environmental permitting only by 2016. Surely this cannot be right for this Administration is committed to regulate quarries once and for all not by 2016 but within this legislature, which ends in 2013, more so considering that a recent report in the media stated that more than half of the quarries in Malta and Gozo are not adhering to operating rules.
So what are we waiting for?
The improvements in air quality registered during the term of this Administration will be incontestably high. Yet, the NEP gives us an opportunity to refocus and redouble our efforts to implement our commitment to redress the environmental deficit.
We cannot miss this opportunity.
The document is open for public consultation and you too should make your views known.
www.simonbusuttil.eu
Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.