Friends of the Earth Malta (FoE) has criticised the authorities for not organising any car free day events in Malta this week, as part of the European Mobility week celebrated by many EU countries. It also encouraged people to take individual action throughout the year

The organisation said local and European citizens were very worried about pollution and urban mobility.

“In many of our polluted towns and cities, people complain of a poor quality of life. Exhaust fumes from old cars and buses, traffic jams and noise pollution all affect our quality of life. And yet, the numbers of cars on the Maltese roads keep on increasing.

“It has now been many years since two local doctors published their research showing that the residents of Fgura have the highest level of respiratory problems amongst all the towns and cities studied worldwide.

“These health problems are very likely to be related to motor vehicle and power station emissions, yet very little has been done since then to reduce the number of cars from our towns.”

FoE said the aim of the European Mobility Week campaign was to encourage public awareness of the need to act against pollution caused by the increase in motorised traffic in the urban environment. It was not just a question of fighting atmospheric pollution or noise but also of improving the quality of urban life.

It said that although no official events were organised, FoE believed this should not discourage individuals from taking action throughout the whole year.

People should consider alternatives to driving, especially for journeys under two kilometres. Walking and cycling would not only benefit the environment, but also one’s health and pocket. And if one had to use a car to get to work, a car-share could be organised with workmates.