Speaking at a recent conference, The future of traffic management in Malta: Innovative Mobility held at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Hon. Leo Brincat, Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change said poor air quality from diesel fumes was 'one of the big worries' for inhabitants of Malta and Gozo.

Malta has substantial traffic problems, caused by an overworked road network and the need to re-plan junctions in its major cities, as well as inadequacies of the public transport system – set to include improvements to the rail network and with a monorail under consideration.

‘Innovative mobility is no longer an option,’ he said. ‘It has become a must. While the reform of public transport remains pivotal it should serve as the core of a wider big picture. That of a sustainable transport plan.’

This includes two strands. The government wants to get 5,000 electric vehicles on the roads by the end of the decade, aimed at improving air quality in cities, but will also introduce an Intelligent Transport System to manage traffic more effectively and help emergency services and public transport to move through crowded urban areas.

Brincat said: ‘In its electoral manifesto this government has acknowledged the serious situation in the transport sector and committed itself to give priority to the traffic problem in Malta which continues to impact negatively the quality of life of both our families as well as Maltese and Gozitan businesses.

‘It is a strong positive that Government has placed the electrification of Maltese transport as one of its main pillars in transport policy with a view to have cleaner and less polluting transport.’