Malta's emissions problem will only get worse - Labour

Labour MP Leo Brincat said the recent European Environment Agency report confirms that Malta has not met its targets in terms of emissions.

Describing the report as "another negative certificate for the GonziPN government", Brincat said Malta is 28% off its 2011 targets, placing it last in the EU27.

He also pointed out that while 13 EU member states have gone beyond their targets, Malta is lagging behind and if these targets are not met the country might need to pay penalties or trade emission rights with other countries under the Emissions Trading Scheme, or do both at the same time.

"Whatever the choice is, it will be costly, and as expected it is the people who will pay for it," Brincat said.

Brincat explained that Malta produces around 7.5 tons of emissions per capita annually, amounting to 30% more than what was produced in 1990.

"This goes to confirm the country's inefficiency in energy use particularly its dependence on oil," the MP said.

He added that the complications at the BWSC Delimara extension and the dependence on the Marsa Power Plant will only make the emissions problem worse.