From Ms Alexandra Mifsud
Last month, several countries within and even beyond Europe participated in Mobility Week. For a whole week, (16 to 22 September), citizens could enjoy events and initiatives specifically about sustainable mobility. Individuals learnt more about the risks posed by current private car use reliance, as well as the benefits to their health and the environment when creative alternative means of transport are put into practice.
Mobility Week builds upon the success of the campaign “In Town Without My Car” that started in France in 1998. This campaign started in response to the concern of many European citizens about their poor quality of life due to air and noise pollution. Its aim is to create awareness among the public on the need to take action against the ever-increasing number of cars in urbanised areas. The event serves as an opportunity for local authorities to raise awareness among their citizens as well as giving society the opportunity to offer its support to an environmental initiative aimed at improving their own quality of life.
The focal theme for Mobility Week 2006 was Climate Change. There is a strong connection between private car use and climate change. In recent years, Europe has felt the impact of climate change, with several countries experiencing floods, forest fires and glacier shrinkage. There is sufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate the link between human activity and freak climatic conditions. Therefore, Climate Change emerged as a central theme in several environmental and energy policies at EU level. Yet, it is also recognised that more needs to be done at local level especially through consultation based on Local Agenda 21 principles. Furthermore, the desired outcome can be achieved with the full support of the authorities in providing education, training and public awareness.
The success of Mobility Week depends on the level of commitment from the national coordinators, which in most cases are the relevant ministries or government agencies. The national coordinators are crucial in ensuring a coherent policy and methodology for the campaign through an effective communications programme. In recent years, Malta seems to have been unable to come to grips with holding a successful mobility week and Car Free Days proved to be a nightmare for Maltese citizens. This year, Malta, with the exception of one or two local councils, has decided to give this golden opportunity to create awareness on road transport and climate change a miss. Yet, can the country really afford to fall behind on an environmental issue that will shape the future of the world? Isn't it time to set up a think tank and allocate funds for the realisation of a truly effective Mobility Week in 2007? Such an event needs a great deal of planning as it takes more than just a couple of adverts to educate citizens on the benefits of this campaign. In the absence of training, education and public awareness, next time round let us not put the blame on the public for their reluctance to participate in Mobility Week!
Alexandra Mifsud is board member and education campaigner of Friends of the Earth (Malta). Address: PO Box 13, Valletta, CMR 01, Malta e-mail: [email protected], http://www.foemalta.org