Preliminary data published by the European Environment Agency shows that although in 2010 Malta missed one of four emission targets it is making significant strides in this area.
Under the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD), Malta had to reduce the release of four poisonous gasses into the atmosphere by 2010. However, according to new EEA data, Malta slightly exceeded its nitrogen oxide (NOx) targets.
On the other hand, Malta managed to remain significantly within limits when it comes to the other three pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3).
All these pollutants can cause respiratory problems, contribute to the acidification of soil and surface water and damage vegetation. The ceilings set in the NEC directive were designed to reduce such adverse impacts by an agreed amount.
An EEA official said yesterday that although Malta did not manage to reach its targets in all four categories, the island did make significant progress over the past years.
“Malta is in the red where it comes to NOx and there will be legal consequences if the island keeps breaching the rules. However, we also appreciate that the island is trying to cut emissions and has done so in the other three categories of harmful emissions,” the official said.
According to data obtained by The Times, Malta has managed to reduce emissions in all four categories over the past three years through a number of mitigating measures, particularly when it comes to emissions coming from the power stations, the biggest pollutant on the island.
With regard to NOx, the island cut emissions from 11.3 kilotonnes in 2007 to 8.1 kilotonnes in 2010 but remains above the 8 kilotonnes limit.
Significant reductions were also seen in SO2, down from 18.2 kilotonnes in 2007 to 8.1 kilotonnes in 2010. NMVOCs were reduced from 3.2 to 2.5 kilotonnes while NH3 – produced mainly by agriculture – went down from 1.8 to 1.5 kilotonnes in the 2007 -2010 period.
Malta is not the only slacker in the EU in the field. According to the EEA, there were 12 member states which, in 2010, exceeded one or more of the emission limits set by the NEC directive, in some instances by significant amounts.
Spain was the only member state to have exceeded three of its four emission ceilings under the NECD; followed by Germany with two failing areas. Finland exceeded its ammonia ceiling.