Intent and Objectives: Air Quality Plan

 

Start date: 28 January 2021

Closing date: 25 February 2021

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Air Quality Plan

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning

Entity: Environment & Resources Authority

 

  1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, is preparing an air quality plan in accordance with the Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC). The Directive calls for Member States to maintain ambient air quality where it is good and improve it in other cases, by means of plans and programs of action. The Ambient Air Quality Directive is transposed into national regulations through the Ambient Air Quality Regulations (S.L. 549.59), which also sets limit values for a number of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10).

Trends in air quality data demonstrate that locations which experience high volumes of traffic as well as high levels of traffic congestion suffer from poorer air quality. Following the assessment of data from ERA’s monitoring stations for the year 2018, it was concluded that Msida Air Quality Monitoring Station exceeded the allowed number of exceedances of the daily limit value for particulate matter (PM10).

 

  1. Consultation

Given that the source of these exceedances is mostly transport-derived, the intent of the plan is to mainly focus on the transport sector and target pollutants driven by road transport activities.

As per the Air Quality Management Order issued in the Government Gazette on 18 December 2020, the main objective of the Air Quality Plan is to include measures focusing on the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), which is the area to be prioritised based on air pollution data. The AQMA covers areas within the Northern Harbour District and Southern Harbour District, namely the entire local council of Pietà, and parts of Floriana, Msida, Marsa, Ħamrun, Qormi, Luqa and Paola.

The public is invited to submit any feedback or comments on the intent and objectives of this plan. Suggestions on which practical measures could be implemented in the above-mentioned locations are welcomed.

 

  1. Submission of feedback

 

  1. Further notes:

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft Air Quality Plan will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/