Labour MEP Miriam Dalli has been appointed by the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament to be the shadow rapporteur on a report on reducing pollutant emissions from cars.

In an address to the European Parliament’s Environmental Committee Dr Dalli said that air pollution was a major hazard to human health, as proven by various scientific studies. While it was true that air quality in Europe had improved in recent years, air pollution, particularly that caused by vehicle emissions, was still a serious problem with consequential negative and lasting effects on the health of the people.

Vehicle emissions generate 25% of all greenhouse gases. The European Enviromental Agency (EEA) estimates that, on a European level, vehicle emissions have increased by 36% between 1990 and 2011.

Dr Dalli further noted that Malta experienced an increase of 61.9% in vehicle emissions over this same period.