It is obvious to everyone that the environment is nowadays an integral part of the political lexicon of all the political parties in Malta. Whether this is out of conviction or out of convenience is, however, another story altogether. Irrespective of the objective,  however, it is still however positive to observe this development.

Reckless land-use planning over the years, as well as irresponsible and unsustainable hunting, have been at the forefront of the environmental agenda for quite some time and I have already written extensively on these topics. Caring for the environment signifies much more than this, even though both land use planning and hunting will, of necessity, remain at the top of Malta’s environmental agenda.

However, competing for attention and resources, the quality of the air we breath – as well as the waste we generate – are two specific areas that will undoubtedly be on the environmental action agenda in the months and years ahead. These are areas which the environmental lobby has been emphasising for years on end as being crucial in determining a better quality of life for all.

Air quality has to be tackled head on through the formulation of a transport strategy that seeks to encourage alternative forms of sustainable access between our towns and villages. This will most probably be a combination of various means and actions.

The proposed metro is an option worth considering, even though details are currently not available. The metro will only be feasible if it is linked with focused action on reducing the number of cars on the road and ensuring that all remaining cars on the road, after a reasonable transition, are electric. It is useless promoting a metro and simultaneously retaining a substanial programme of road-widening and/or construction of flyovers. Improving the road network will only ease traffic congestion temporarily but will simultaneously increase the capacity for more traffic leading in turn to more traffic congestion.

Encouraging the use of bicycles and pedelecs will contribute substantially to improved mobility and a better quality of life, including ever-improving air quality. Substantial investment in the bicycle infrastructure is, however, required. This must include the provision of more bicycle-friendly roads and shower facilities at places of work as an essential pre-requisite, together with more bicycle parking areas. 

Different forms of public transport using clean energy should also be encouraged – for example, converting exisiting public buses to the use of methane as their primary fuel.

Waste management is another environmental headache and which has, of late, been receiving more attention. An effort is currently under way to address the organic percentage of the household waste generated. If properly managed, this could have substantial results, because organic waste accounts for around 50 per cent of all the household waste generated. The tourism authorities must, however, seek to focus on the organic waste generated by bars and restaurants because the MTA has neglected this matter for far too long.

Proper waste management can result in the generation of green jobs in the recycling industry – which is still in its infancy but holds a lot of potential. It is an opportunity to transform a problem caused by neglect over the years into an opportunity that will be both green and clean.