Hiked utility bills made us consume less energy – MEPA

Key environment indicators published by the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) and the National Statistics Office show the consumption of water and electricity and planning permits decreasing during 2009, and that the amount of electricity generated fell by almost 5% in 2009.

MEPA said this trend was due to the increase in penetration of renewable energy technologies, investment in energy conservation, as well as the prevailing economic climate in 2009 and the increase in utility tariffs.

In addition, billed water consumption fell by 5.4% and permissions for dwelling units by 22.5%.

Malta's greenhouse gas emissions also decreased by 5% in 2009.

On the other hand, the number of private motor vehicles registered in the islands increased by 1.9% to 300,347 in 2009. The number of vehicles per capita stood at 0.73, a slight increase from 0.71 in 2008, largely due to a decrease in total population.

Malta's bathing waters were all of excellent (93%) or good (6.9%) quality in 2009, maintaining the high standards recorded in previous years. With the coming into operation of the Ta' Barkat sewage treatment plant earlier this year, this indicator is expected to improve even further.

Nitrate levels however exceeded the EU limit value in almost 90% of groundwater bodies in 2009, whilst the threshold value for chlorides was exceeded in most groundwater bodies.

The indicators also show that the annual nationwide average of nitrogen dioxide concentrations remained well below the EU and World Health Organisation limit values in 2009, however concentrations exceeded the limit value in 5 localities and 22 individual sites. On the other hand, sulphur dioxide concentrations fell by 20% in 2009, in line with trends over the past years, possibly due to the 5% decrease in electricity generation.

Real-time monitoring in 2009 indicated high levels of dust, or particulate matter, in Msida, Zejtun and Gharb on a number of days during the year. However most particulate matter originated from natural sources, with the result that national emissions did not exceed EU thresholds.

Public environmental expenditure increased by 9% in 2009, rising to €103.5 million, which is equivalent to 1.8% of GDP. Most of the expenditure was related to solid and liquid waste management, followed by spending for the protection of biodiversity and landscape, and by various environmental initiatives and campaigns, funds for green leaders and green wardens, as well as matching national funds related to EU projects.