The State of the Environment Report, drawn up by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), and released to the media by Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino last week, highlighted a number of topics which call for the urgent attention of concerned citizens.

The report identified 22 environment-related areas where the trend is negative, and only six with a positive trend.

It is reported that Malta’s ground water is seriously at risk from over-exploitation and pollution. This is jeopardising Malta’s only renewable fresh water resource.

The large share of extraction by private individuals is estimated at 30 per cent of total water production in 2003.

In 2004, nitrate levels at two thirds of boreholes managed by the Water Services Corporation exceeded levels set by the EU Nitrate Directive.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Malta’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 44 per cent between 1990 and 2003, the principal areas of pollution being the energy and transport sectors. Energy consumption increased by no less than 73 per cent between 1990 and 2004. The number of vehicles on the road increased from 114,197 in 1986 to 271,137 in 2004.

The report suggests that the problem of energy consumption has to be treated separately from, and with equal, if not even greater, concern, than the issue of economic growth. Energy consumption grew by 61 per cent between 1990 and 2002, and the trend is expected to continue.

At the same time, Malta is still far from reaching EU renewable energy targets.

Nitrogen oxide pollution is high in particular urban areas. Annual averages of nitric oxides in Floriana were always above the “annual limit value” for human health protection.

The report refers to the “significant potential” that exists for improving the overall efficiency of land use. It calls for an in-depth investigation into the social and economic dynamics that lurk behind the apparent contradiction between exorbitant property prices and the high rate of vacant residences.

Construction and demolition waste increased by 112 per cent in the eight years leading to 2004, and lead concentration in a quarter of Maltese soils is too high.

While 51 per cent of Malta was identified as of high – or very high – landscape value in 2004, only 12 per cent of the island’s landscape has been

formally protected.

Positive aspects

The positive aspects included the following observations:

In 2004, all bathing water sites conformed to EU Bathing Water Directive standards.

There was a “drastic” reduction in benzene and sulphur dioxide concentrations once Malta switched to more environment-friendly fuels.

The government is spending an additional Lm7 million a year to operate the power stations on low sulphur fuels.

The introduction of eco-tax had led to a considerable reduction in the use of plastic bags – estimated by the Environment Minister at 20 million annually!

It is well and good that the overall environmental problem is being addressed by way of investigation. A picture is emerging of the real nature and scale of the problem. This gives impetus to the urgent need of reaching out for solutions.

When the minister discussed the Mepa report with the media last week, he chose to focus of the positive aspects. To shy off the urgent and pressing negative issues would be ostrich like. To find solace in the fact that eco-tax has induced consumers not to buy plastic bags by the million, when serious health hazards, arising from nitrogen oxide and nitrate

pollution abound, borders on the

surreal.

The outstanding and painful reality, which did not emerge from the Mepa report, is the vulnerability of the national environment, and the absence of effective powers to safeguard it.

Malta’s ground water has been at risk for years. Air pollution has festered systematically and progressively before our eyes. Great damage has been caused to the environment and Mepa showed lack of power all along.

It so happened that, at the same time the above mentioned Mepa report was made available for public consumption, the public was regaled with a media report about extensive excavation works at Xemxija, on which now an inquiry board has been established.

Mepa may very well have opened a can of worms when it released its 2005 State of the Environment Report.

Before the report was published, the can may have made an impact. Now, that the worms are out aplenty, it is evident that we are still far from reaching our goals.

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