'School timetable adjustments' among Malta's air quality proposals

A reorganisation of the timetable of schoolchildren in Malta is just one of the proposals put forward as part of an air quality plan drawn up by the country's Infrastructure Ministry.

Published yesterday, the report maintains that the measure could help reduce congestion on the island's roads and has also advocated obliging drivers to meet fuel quality standards and launching a campaign to spread awareness of environmental issues.

Medium-term measures highlighted in the document include the provision of more park and ride schemes, testing polluting vehicles at the roadside and banning such vehicles from specified 'low emission' zones.

The study also identifies several parts of the country which exceeded their annual limits for nitrogen dioxide in 2008.

Maltese authorities might benefit from taking a leaf out of the book of Sweden, whose capital Stockholm won the continent's Green Capital for 2010 award earlier this year due to its excellent air and water quality.

Written by Claire Manning