MEPA launches online shared environmental information system

A new and innovative geoportal information system (seismalta.org.mt) with the latest ongoing environmental data has been launched by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The portal’s goal is to facilitate and empower citizens, businesses, academia and NGOs to take conscious decisions and instigate change when equipped with credible, regular and timely information about the state of the environment.

The information system also provides policymakers with better access to high-quality thematic information about the environment. As a result, policies can be amended or created for the purpose of improving the quality of the environment and to reduce impacts on it, while safeguarding human health.

The €4.9 million project focused on radically improving the national environmental monitoring capacity in six environmental themes: air, water, radiation, noise, soil and marine.

The project’s output resulted in the procurement of equipment, information management systems, environmental baseline surveys, training of staff and the enhancement of the national monitoring programmes.