It is very encouraging to read so many letters and articles in the press expressing concerns about the increase in exhaust emissions. This is a sign that the mentality in this country is changing and environmental issues, which in most cases are directly related to better living and health, are becoming more and more a concern.

One cannot disagree with such concerns; what I do not agree with is the approach they adopt to address the issue. It seems to be the culture in this country, as we tend to overlook what is really the cause of the problem and instead tackle problems superficially.

The virtual causes for the increase in exhaust emissions are the vehicles and ADT’s lack of enforcement. While the real culprits for this state of affairs are the various governments (including the present one) that were and still are mostly concerned with the revenue generated from vehicles’ direct and indirect taxation, than the health of the people living on these islands.

Engines of all sizes and nature are the most efficient for the first five years; after that engine efficiency starts to deteriorate and from the 10th year onwards the deterioration rate increases further.

Notwithstanding this fundamental condition, one government after another persisted with the policy of maintaining excessive taxation on vehicles, especially new ones, thereby promoting the prolonged use of ageing vehicles. This continued to excel with the policy which permitted the country to become the dumping ground for second-hand – in some case even scrapped – vehicles from other countries. At one time even scrapped engines were being allowed into this country. This practice was and still is excessively rampant with construction vehicles and equipment, coaches and with the cars imported from Japan in particular, though not only.

One government after the other bring up the blunt excuse that the policy of excessive taxation is beneficial for the country because it controls the increase in the number of vehicles on the road.

I classify this statement as nothing more than an excuse and this needs to be further qualified. With the entire taxation regime in place, the number of cars on the road never decreased over the past 25 years. This is proof enough that taxation of whatever kind is not the means to control the increase in the number of vehicles. This policy is only maintained and refined by various governments because of the revenue it generates, completely ignoring the health and well being of the citizens and the environment and the increase in the health bill required to cure the diseases associated with exhaust emissions.

If governments are really concerned about reducing the number of cars on the roads, the solution lies fairly and squarely on a very efficient and affordable public transport system and let no one beat round the bush and say it different. But public transport is another complex issue and is not within the scope of this letter.

The solution to reduce emission levels is very clear:

• Encourage a faster turn around of vehicles

• Encourage the use of new fuel saving systems such as hybrid system driven vehicles

• Encourage the use of small vehicles and engines

• Introduce and encourage the adoption of gas as fuel for vehicles instead of diesel

• Discourage in the most absolute way the use of vehicles older than 10 years,

• Abolish the importation of second-hand vehicles for re-sale purpose

• Used vehicles should only be imported by individuals who are coming to reside on the island. In any case conditions should still be set out.

At this stage one would tend to say this is easier said than done; in fact this is where a taxman worth his salt should excel. In simple terms one should reduce taxation to encourage and increase taxation to discourage. But here is where I have to stop, as I am not a tax planner though I do have my own ideas.

Another way governments can help out with this lower emission issue, is to offer grants to those who want to get rid of old vehicles or venture to acquire the very latest technologies that would naturally be more expensive to acquire, though more beneficial to the environment. It is worth noting that new technologies imply that a vehicle considered very efficient 10 years ago is by today’s standard an inefficient vehicle when compared new for new.

Funds for such grants might also be available through various EU schemes; we just have to tap them. Mind you this is not a new idea; governments all over Europe give grants to encourage vehicle recycling. So it should not be that difficult to persuade anyone in Europe to allow such.

With today’s prices for new vehicles on this island, very few are encouraged to replace a vehicle a year or two after finishing paying the instalments. This is where lower taxation and grants will make it more worthwhile to replace an ageing vehicle instead of going through the headaches of maintaining it. On the other hand, if one opts to keep an aging vehicle then one should be made to pay dearly for the harm this choice will be causing.

Trying to achieve lower exhaust emissions from old and absolute vehicles is simply absurd and that is why ADT is in theory right when it does not enforce the regulations because it simply cannot apply them. If these were to be applied most vehicles belonging to the government and its authorities would fail, as would most construction, delivery vehicles and most of the buses.

All health and environment conscious citizens and guests on these islands should stop cursing vehicle owners and ADT for the high exhaust emissions. Curse the politicians because it is them who are allowing and, even worse, promoting such situations.

Victor Buhagiar

SIGGIEWI