Kontradizzjonijiet

Jekk wieħed joqgħod biss fuq dak li jgħidu dawk li jitkellmu f’isem il-Gvern, malajr jasal għal konklużjoni żbaljata li qatt ma kellna Gvern favur l-ambjent daqs dan tal-lum. Sfortunatament l-affarijiet huma ferm differenti minn hekk!

Iktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa ġie fi tmiemu l-perjodu ta’ sitt ġimgħat konsultazzjoni dwar l-iskop tal-Istrateġija Nazzjonali tal-Biodiversità u l-Pjan t’Azzjoni dwarha li għandu jwassal sal-2030. Għal xi raġuni li s’issa għad mhiex magħrufa l-Awtorità dwar l-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi (ERA), għal dawn l-aħħar snin qed tikkonċentra l-konsultazzjonijiet importanti għax-xhur tas-sajf (b’mod partikolari tul Awwissu) meta hu magħrufa li n-nies tieħu l-vaganzi u allura tistrieħ!

L-Istrateġija Nazzjonali dwar il-Biodiversità u l-Pjan t’Azzjoni assoċjat magħha, bla dubju, meta jkun konkluż ser ifittex li jħares il-kapital naturali tal-pajjiż fit-totalità tiegħu.  

Imma iktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa, Clint Camilleri, l-Ministru għall-Kaċċa u l-Insib, ħabbar li l-Gvern, għal darb’oħra, ser jerġa’  jipprova jissabotaġġa l-implementazzjoni tal-Direttiva tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar l-Għasafar billi jipprova jisfrutta xi partijiet minnha!   Il-konsulenti tal-Gvern qed jippruvaw jagħmlu użu minn dik il-parti tad-Direttiva tal-Għasafar li tipprovdi dwar l-istudji xjentifiċi: din tippermetti  l-qbid ta’ numru żgħir ta’ għasafar ħajjin. Dan kollu, fil-fehma tal-Gvern u l-konsulenti tiegħu, jista’ jiġġustifika xi forma ta’ nsib!

Jidher li għadhom ma fehmu xejn: id-Direttiva tal-Għasafar tal-Unjoni Ewropea hi għodda Ewropeja dwar il-ħarsien tal-biodiversità u mhux strument biex jiġġustifika l-kaċċa jew l-insib!

Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela, il-ġimgħa li għaddiet, waqt li kien qed jindirizza l-Kamra tal-Kummerċ ħabbar viżjoni msejsa fuq ħames punti. Wieħed minn dawn il-punti, li fl-aħħar induna bih, hu l-ħtieġa li naddottaw bħala mira li nilħqu n-newtralità fl-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju. Mira tajba, kieku dak li qed jgħid hu veru!

Dan hu każ ieħor fejn għal darb’ oħra, l-Gvern, ambjentalment qed juri wiċċ b’ieħor, kif wara kollox issa ilna li drajna!  Il-Gvern ilu s-snin iberbaq il-miljuni tal-euro fi żvilupp ta’ infrastruttura ta’ toroq li mhiex meħtieġa: l-iskop uniku hu li jirrinforza d-dipendenza fuq il-karozzi privati għax minnhom jiddipendi ammonti kbar tad-dħul tal-Gvern: minn taxxi fuq petrol u diesel sa taxxi u liċenzji assoċjati mal-karozzi.

Il-Gvern ikkummissjona studji, strateġiji u Pjani Nazzjonali u meta waslu għandu qalibhom ta’ taħt fuq.  Id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ Robert Abela favur viżjoni bil-mira ta’ newtralità fl-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju hija f’kontradizzjoni mal-infieq massiċċ tal-Gvern fuq infrastruttura tat-toroq li mhix meħtieġa.  Il-Gvern ta’ Abela, bħal dawk ta’ qablu (ħomor u blu), jaħseb li l-problemi jistgħu jissolvew billi jkunu  bbumbardjati bil-miljuni tal-euro. Il-flus ċertament dejjem ikunu ta’ għajnuna, imma jeħtieġ li jintużaw tajjeb u mhux jitberbqu kif qed iseħħ presentement.

L-ispazju li għandi hu limitat u allura ma nistax nispjega mill-ġdid il-proposti kollha li Alternattiva Demokratika għamlet dwar dan kollu tul is-snin: proposti Ii jiswew farka mill-miljuni li l-Gvern qiegħed iberbaq.  

Ikun biżżejjed li niftakru li l-Pjan Nazzjonali dwar it-Trasport jispjega illi 50 fil-mija tal-vjaġġi li nagħmlu bil-karozzi privati fil-gżejjer Maltin għandhom tul li ma jaqbizx il-ħmistax-il minuta. Dan juri b’mod mill-iktar ċar  mobilità primarjament ta’ natura lokali u reġjonali!  Għal dan la hemm bżonn ta’ flyovers u l-anqas ta’ mini imma qafas biex fih jitħaddem transport lokali u reġjonali.  Huma inizjattivi ta’ din ix-xorta li jnaqqsu l-karozzi mit-toroq li jgħinuna fit-triq diffiċli lejn n-newtralità fl-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju!

Għaddew madwar tlett snin minn meta l-predeċessur ta’ Robert Abela ħa proposta mill-Manifest Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika dwar il-ħtieġa li nistabilixxu data li minnha lil hemm ma jinbiegħux karozzi li jaħdmu bil-petrol u d-diesel u dan flimkien ma proposti oħra dwar l-elettrifikazzjoni tat-trasport fit-toroq tagħna. Imma l-istudji mwegħda ma jidhrux b’nemes!

Il-kontradizzjonijiet fil-politika ambjentali tal-Partit Laburista jimxu fuq l-eżempju tal-predeċessuri tagħhom fil-Gvern li waqt li kienu jokorbu biex nipproteġu l-ilma fasslu proġett biex l-ilma tax-xita jispiċċa kważi kollu l-baħar. Proġett li spiċċa biex mal-ilma tax-xita, rema’ l-baħar, miljuni ta’ euro f’fondi Ewropej!

Il-paroli tal-Labour u tal-PN dwar l-ambjent qatt ma solva xejn. Għax dejjem jgħidu ħaġa u jagħmlu oħra.

Ippubblikat fuq Illum: Il-Ħadd 23 t’Awwissu 2020

Contradictions

Taking government spokespersons at face value could lead to the mistaken conclusion that Labour in government is a defender of the environment. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Earlier this week saw the end of a six-week consultation period relative to the Intent and Objectives of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan leading to 2030. For some unknown reason the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), for the past years has been concentrating its most important consultations during the summer months, in particular August, the least productive months as they coincide with the holiday period. The National Biodiversity Strategy and relative Action Plan will, when concluded, strive to actively protect our natural capital in its widest sense.

Yet earlier this week Clint Camilleri, Minister for Hunting and Trapping, announced another government attempt to try and sabotage the implementation of the EU Birds’ Directive through seeking potential additional loopholes.  Government advisors are trying to use the provisions of the Birds’ Directive relative to scientific studies, which permit the live capture of a small number of birds, to make a case for local trapping! They seem to not have yet understood that the EU Birds’ Directive is a biodiversity protection tool and not an instrument to justify hunting or trapping in whatever form or shape.

Prime Minister Robert Abela, when addressing the Chamber of Commerce last week, deemed it fit to announce a five-point vision. One of the points which he has at last adopted is the aim of attaining carbon neutrality. Very laudable indeed, if it were true!

This is another case of environmental lip service which we have become accustomed to for a number of years. Government has over the past years been squandering millions of euros in large scale transport infrastructural projects with the specific aim of reinforcing our dependence on the private car. Private cars are the source of large chunks of government income, ranging from taxes on fuel to car licences and registration taxes. Government has commissioned studies, strategies and National Plans which it then turns on their head. Robert Abela’s late conversion to a vision of a carbon neutral Malta is in direct contradiction to the spending spree on road transport infrastructure. His government, like that of his predecessors, red and blue, thinks that problems can be solved by being bombarded with euros, millions of them. Euros certainly help but they must be well spent, not squandered as they currently are.

I haven’t got space today to go through all the proposals which Greens have brought forward over the years, costing a fraction of the millions currently going down the drains. It would suffice to point out that the National Transport Master Plan had identified that 50 per cent of trips using private cars in the Maltese Islands are of a duration of less than fifteen minutes, clearly indicating primarily a mobility that it is local or regional in nature!  We don’t need flyovers, tunnels or underpasses to address this but an efficient local and regional transport network which we currently lack. It is such initiatives which encourage reduction of cars from our roads and help us climb the steep road to carbon neutrality!

It is now almost three years since Robert Abela’s predecessor took a leaf out of the Green Electoral manifesto on proposing a cut-off date on the sale of vehicles operating with internal combustion engines, and on other measures relating to the electrification of our roads. Yet the promised studies are nowhere in sight!

The constant contradictions in environmental positions taken by Labour follow the path entrenched by its predecessors, who, while emphasising the need to protect our water resources devised a project to throw away our storm water directly into the sea, using millions of euros of EU funds which ended up down the drain, with the water.

The environmental lip-service of Labour and the PN has never solved anything, nor will it ever do.

published on The Malta Independent on Sunday : 23 August 2020

Patt Ġdid Aħdar

Patt Ġdid Aħdar (Green New Deal) hi tweġiba għall-kriżijiet li qed tiffaċċja s-soċjetà tagħna. Għandu jkollu l-mira li jirrikonċila l-istil ta’ ħajjitna – kif ngħixu, kif nipproduċu u x’nikkunsmaw – mal-limiti prattiċi u fiżiċi tad-dinja madwarna.

Hu vjaġġ li jista’ jittrasforma l-ħajja f’kull settur b’riformi radikali li jorbtu katina flimkien. Bħala riżultat nistgħu ngħixu f’iktar armonija man-natura.

Matul is-sena d-dieħla għandna nisimgħu dwar in-nisġa ta’ strateġija għal Patt Ġdid Aħdar fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Ursula von der Leyen, għandha mira ambizzjuża: trid li jkollha pjan dwar dan il-Patt Ġdid Aħdar lest għad-diskussjoni fi żmien mitt jum minn meta l-Kummissjoni Ewropea l-Ġdida tibda tiffunzjona. Dan bla dubju jkollu effett fuq kull pajjiż membru tal-Unjoni. Nistennew għaldaqstant li matul is-sena jkollna l-proposti tal-Gvern Malti ukoll f’dan is-sens.

Din hi triq li l-Ħodor Ewropej ilhom imexxu l-quddiem għal bosta snin u mhix koinċidenza li din il-viżjoni tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea l-Ġdida qed tieħu sura hekk kif il-Grupp tal-Ħodor fil-Parlament Ewropew kiber sostanzjalment fid-daqs.

Il-Patt Ġdid Aħdar hu dwar ferm iktar mit-tibdil fil-klima. Huwa ukoll dwar il-mudell ekonomiku li hu l-kawża tad-degradazzjoni ambjentali madwarna.

Fil-kummenti tiegħu huwa u jagħlaq id-diskussjoni dwar il-Baġit, il-Prim Ministru, pereżempju, spjega li l-qalba għal karozzi tal-elettriku tfisser ferm iktar milli sempliċiment nimpurtaw il-karozzi u li niżviluppaw l-infrastruttura meħtieġa għalihom.

Tfisser ukoll t-tmiem tat-taxxi tar-reġistrazzjoni tal-karozzi kif ukoll it-taxxi li jinġabru mill-bejgħ tal-petrol u d-diżil li dwarhom l-istima għas-sena 2020 hi ta’ €157 miljun, skont l-estimi tal-Baġit li l-Ministru tal-Finanzi ppreżenta reċentement fil-Parlament. Ma’ din is-somma wieħed irid jikkunsidra ukoll it-taxxa li tinġabar mar-reġistrazzjoni tal-karozzi li għas-sena 2020 hi stmata li tlaħħaq €55 miljun kif ukoll il-liċenzji tat-triq li jitħallsu kull sena, huma stmati li jlaħħqu €85 miljun oħra fis-sena finanzjarja 2020. Dan ifisser li fis-sena 2020 €297 miljun mid-dħul tal-Gvern ser ikunu dipendenti fuq il-karozzi, prinċipalment fuq karozzi privati. Sa mill-2018 bħala inċentiv favur l-introduzzjoni ta’ karozzi bl-elettriku kienet introdotta eżenzjoni mit-taxxa tar-registrazzjoni. Dakinnhar ukoll kienet tħabbret esenzjoni ta’ ħames snin fuq il-liċenzja tat-triq għal dawn il-karozzi. L-impatt tal-elettrifikazzjoni, għaldaqstant imur lil hinn mill-klima. Hemm impatt ukoll fuq il-finanzi pubbliċi għax ikun meħtieġ identifikazzjoni ta’ sostitut għal dan in-nuqqas ta’ dħul.

Hu ċar li l-inkarigu li Frans Timmermans ingħata dwar il-Patt Ġdid Aħdar prinċipalment ser ikun iffukat dwar il-politika tal-klima u kif l-Unjoni Ewropea għandha tilħaq il-mira ta’ status carbon neutral sal-2050.

Imma hemm iktar minn hekk ukoll. Ursula von der Leyen fl-ittra tagħha tal-10 Settembru 2019 fejn tfisser l-oġġettivi li jridu jintlaħqu minn Timmermans tgħid li “għandna nħarsu b’mod iktar wiesa’, mill-enerġija li nipproduċu u nużaw, b’inkoraġġiment għal investiment mis-settur privat u appoġġ għat-teknoloġija nadifa, inkluż għat-trasport li nużaw, l-ikel li nikkunsmaw u l-ippakkeġġar li narmu.” Dan ser jinkudi ukoll responsabbiltà kemm għall-ekonomija ċirkulari kif ukoll għal dik assoċjat mal-qasam marittimu, magħrufa ukoll bħala l-ekonomija l-blu.

Ursula von der Leyen temfasizza ukoll il-mira dwar it-tnaqqis tal-emissjonijiet tal-karbonju li tinsisti illi għandhom jiżdiedu ta’ l-inqas sa’ tnaqqis ta’ 50% sas-sena 2030.

Tagħmel emfasi partikolari wkoll fuq l-impatti soċjali ta’ din il-bidla billi tiffoka fuq il-ħtieġa ta’ transizzjoni ġusta prinċipalment f’dawk ir-reġjuni li huma dipendenti fuq l-industrija, fuq il-faħam, inkella fuq l-industrija tal-enerġija. Ma’ dan huwa ppjanat kemm attenzjoni dwar il-ħarsien tal-bijodiversità kif ukoll il-mira li jitrazzan kull xorta ta’ tniġġis.

Punt interessanti fl-inkarigu ta’ von der Leyen lil Timmermans huwa emfasi li l-politika ta’ tassazzjoni hi meqjusa bħala għodda essenzjali li għandha tintuża biex jintlaħqu l-miri tal-politika dwar il-klima. Dan ifisser li ser ikun hemm pressjoni sostanzjali fuq il-Gvern Malti biex jikkura l-allerġija li għandu għat-tassazzjoni, b’mod partikolari t-tassazzjoni ambjentali, għodda effettiva u importanti ħafna fl-implimentazzjoni tal-politika ambjentali.

Bla dubju ser nistennew il-proposti ta’ Timmermans u d-dibattitu imqanqal li ser isegwi!

Ippubblikat fuq Illum : Il-Ħadd 27 ta’ Ottubru 2019

 

A Green New Deal

The Green New Deal is a comprehensive response to the crises we face. It aims to reconcile our lifestyles – the way we live, produce and consume – with the physical limits of our planet.

It is a transformational journey consisting of sweeping, interlinked reforms at all levels and all sectors, the end result being a more harmonious relationship with nature.

During the next year we should be hearing about the formulation of a strategy for an EU Green New Deal. Ursula von der Leyen, has an ambitious target: her aim is to have an EU blueprint for a Green New Deal ready for discussion within the first hundred days of the new EU Commission being in office. Without a shadow of doubt this will have an impact on all member states of the EU, so as a result we should expect that, during the year, the Maltese Government will also publish its own proposals on the matter.

The European Greens have been advocating such a roadmap for years, and it is certainly no coincidence that the new EU Commission’s vision comes so soon after the Green Group in the European Parliament increased substantially in size.

A Green New Deal is much more than dealing with climate change – it also signifies a focus on the economic model underpinning the accumulating environmental degradation.

In his concluding remarks in the budget debate, for example, the Prime Minister explained that the electrification of private transport signifies much more than importing electricity-driven cars, and the development of an infrastructure for charging points.

It also implies doing away with car registration taxes as well as forgoing taxation collected from the sale of fuel which, for the year 2020, is estimated at €157 million, according to the budgetary estimates which the Finance Minister recently tabled in Parliament. To this substantial sum one must add the projected vehicle registration tax, which is estimated at €55 million and the circulation licence taxes estimated at €85 million for the financial year 2020. This signifies that €297 million of government income projected for 2020 is dependent on cars, mostly private cars and indicates the potential financial impact of the electrification of private transport, which will undoubtedly be spread over a number of years.

In order to incentivise the take-up of electric cars, an exemption from registration taxes on electric cars has been in effect since 2018. Similarly, an exemption on the payment of circulation taxes for the first five years is currently applicable – hence the argument that the issue is much more than climate politics. Consequently, it is also about economics and finance as the government will need to find a substitute for these taxes

Clearly, Frans Timmermans’ brief indicates that his Green New Deal proposals will be focused towards climate change politics and the EU’s attainment of a carbon neutral status by 2050. It is, however substantially more than that. In fact, Ursula von der Leyen states in Timmermans’ mission letter dated 10 September 2019 that “ we must look at everything from how we use and produce energy, unlock private investment and support new clean technologies, all the way through to the transport we use, the food we eat and the packaging we throw away.” This will include responsibility for both the blue economy and the circular economy.

Subsequently, von der Leyen emphasises carbon emission reduction targets must be increased to at least 50 percent by 2030. She furthermore underlines the need for focusing on cushioning against social impacts through ensuring a just transition – in particular in the industrial, coal and energy intensive regions to which will be added a focus on protecting our biodiversity and a zero pollution ambition.

An interesting twist is von der Leyen’s instruction to Timmermans to ensure “that our tax policies enable us to deliver on our climate ambitions.” This signifying that there will be considerable pressure on the Maltese government to seek a cure for its allergy to taxation, particularly environmental taxation, which is an important and effective tool in the implementation of environmental policy.

We await Timmermans’ proposals and the interesting debate that will undoubtedly follow.

published on The Malta Independent on Sunday : 27 October 2019

Gasan irid iktar

 

Joe Gasan għandu negozju tal-karozzi, apparti jiġifieri l-iżvilupp ta’ Townsquare f’Tas-Sliema u l-business venture tal-power station tal-gass…………..

It-Times illum tirrapporta li skond Joe Gasan it-taxxa ta’ registrazzjoni tal-karozzi hi għolja wisq, l-għola fl-Ewropa jgħid. Minħabba f’din it-taxxa mhux qed ibiegħ karozzi kemm jixtieq. Għax irid ibiegħ iżjed, s’intendi biex jagħmel iktar business.

It-Times tirrapporta lil Joe Gasan jgħid li t-taxxa tar-reġistrazzjoni tal-karozzi għandha tonqos. B’hekk il-karozzi jkunu jiswew inqas u jkun jista’ jbiegħ iżjed. Ovvjament mhux hu biss ………….. għax hemm l-oħrajn ukoll. Fosthom dawk li ġieli jbagħbsu l-emissjonijiet tal-karozzi.

Pajjiżna ma jiflaħx iżjed karozzi fit-toroq. Diġa għandna wisq. Meta tqabblu ma pajjiżi oħra għandna ħafna. F’artiklu li kont ktibt xi sena ilu kont spjegajt kif fit-toroq tagħna għandna madwar 122,000 karozza żejda.

Dawn il-karozzi żejda m’humiex ser jonqsu mil-lum għal għada. Pero żgur li mhux ser jonqsu billi nibnu l-flyovers u billi niftħu iktar toroq. Jonqsu biss jekk pajjiżna jirnexxielu jkollu trasport pubbliku effiċjenti – li s’issa għad m’għandux, avolja sar titjib.

It-trasport pubbliku effiċjenti huwa l-unika soluzzjoni għat-traffiku ma jispiċċa qatt. Għax bi trasport pubbliku effiċjenti n-nies waħedha tirrealizza li m’għandhiex bżonn il-karozzi ………… la dawk ta’ Gasan u l-anqas oħrajn.

Imma sadanittant, sakemm naslu biex ikollna trasport pubbliku effiċjenti Gasan u sħabu jibqgħu jeqirdu.

Green Icing on half-baked cake

published on 15 November 2008

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by Carmel Cacopardo

 

 

The budget environmental initiatives can best be described as green icing on the cake. However,once you cut through the icing there is not much to be overjoyed with. These initiatives could be considered as a declaration of intent: the good intentions being severely hampered by the government’s lack of action in the past, even the very recent past. As a result it is very difficult for these initiatives to yield positive results at the present time.

A number of initiatives are linked to transport. While the proposal to refund 15.25 per cent of a bicycle’s cost is welcome, it lacks the support of the necessary infrastructure thereby severely diluting its significance and possible impact. There are very few cycle lanes on our roads, and those that exist are frequently obstructed or else end abruptly. Few bicycle racks were installed in our towns and villages, the most notable being the ones in Birkirkara installed by the local council on the initiative of Green local councillor Mario Mallia during his term of office some years ago.

Others exist in Attard, a credit to Attard Green councillor Ralph Cassar. But very few exist elsewhere. AD is insisting through its local councillors in Attard (Ralph Cassar), Sliema (Michael Briguglio) and Ta’ Sannat (John Mizzi) for more initiatives which would make our roads bicycle friendly. It is only thus that the budget bicycle initiative could make any sense. What about some action by ADT?

The new car tax regime (both registration tax and circulation tax) could have been designed in a better manner. The age of a car, for example, is not necessarily conducive to increased environmental impacts.

The actual emissions as resulting from the VRT test would have been a much better point of reference than vehicle age in determining car taxation. This would encourage and reward those who keep their cars in good working order.

The budget also increased the licence fees (circulation tax) to be paid relative to cars currently on the road. When viewed within the context of the practical inexistence of a reliable public transport service, in the short term this is bad policy.

In the long term, however, it could be an adequate policy tool to encourage the reduction of the 295,000 cars currently on the road. In order to function properly eco taxation requires the existence of an alternative to what is being taxed: the alternative in this case being public transport. In the absence of an alternative the end result will be socially regressive: reduced accessibility to those at the lower end of the social ladder. If the real objective of the new car licence rates (circulation tax) is environmental, it would have been much better for all if they were not applicable immediately. Their applicability should be linked to the reform of the public transport system.

Government’s encouragement of photovoltaic panel installation is very limited. It is generous but due to financial constraints it will be limited to around 200 households.

It is also hampered by other issues which have not yet been addressed. Issues of ownership of airspace have to be examined and new concepts as to its use have to be developed. Likewise from a land use planning point of view any future increase of permissible building heights has to be balanced against the right of access to solar energy.

The direct subsidy of photovoltaic panel purchase is not the only way to encourage installation. The government should explore schemes through which the purchase price is paid through the electrical energy generated. An initiative such as this would render solar energy accessible to those who do not have the required capital outlay readily available.

The eco tax applicable to incandescent light bulbs and the increase in eco tax payable on plastic bags were long overdue. However, the government must explain how it will tackle its major loophole in this respect. It is a known fact, at times documented in the media, that the manner in which eco taxes are being evaded is through overland supplies from neighbouring Sicily. It is eco tax versus the free movement of goods. Will checks be introduced at the border to control blatant and obvious tax evasion?

It is also amusing to note that the government is a late convert to the applicability of eco taxation in the tourism sector. The rate to be applied as from 2010 is insignificant but at last this green principle, which was under attack on the eve of the 2004 European Parliament elections, has now been accepted. Tourism has to date been excluded from the applicability of the polluter pays principle. Hopefully it will slowly come in line. Next to follow should be MTA encouragement of eco and agro tourism. These are forms of tourism with substantially lower environmental impacts than conventional tourism.

The green icing may be fine, but if the cake is half-baked what’s the use?

Il-Jaguar ta’ Austin Gatt

 

 

Il-Ministru Austin Gatt daħħal Jaguar. M’hiex tiegħu. Tal-Gvern. Jiġifieri ser titħallas mit-taxxi li nħallsu int u jien.

 

Għalina m’hemmx Jaguar!

 

Kif kien mistenni l-Gvern fil-Budget ħabbar sistema ġdida dwar kif ikunu intaxxati l-karozzi. Taxxi li ma jitħallsux fuq il-Jaguar li ser juża Austin il-Ministru.

 

Ser ikollna taxxa dwar ir-reġistrazzjoni u t-taxxa dwar iċ-ċirkulazzjoni tal-karozzi.

  

Il-mod kif tinħadem it-taxxa dwar ir-reġistrazzjoni inbidel u bħala riżultat karozzi ta’ ċilindrata kbira huma soġġetti għal taxxa ikbar. B’hekk karozzi żgħar – kemm fid-daqs kif ukoll fiċ-ċilindrata – ser tonqos fuqhom il-piż tat-taxxa li minflok ser tintefa fuq il-karozzi l-kbar. Jekk dan it-tnaqqis ta’ taxxa huwiex ser jirrifletti ruħu fil-prezz tal-karozzi għad irridu naraw.

 

Il-kelmiet “taxxa dwar iċ-ċirkulazzjoni” huma kelmiet oħra flok il-liċenzja ta’ kull sena li nħallsu. Din it-taxxa taċ-ċirkulazzjoni ser tkun trid titħallas minn kulħadd : kemm dawk li għandhom karozzi ġodda kif ukoll dawk li għandhom karozzi qodma.

 

Li titħallas minn dawk li għandhom karozzi ġodda naħseb li huwa sewwa u dan minħabba li dawn il-karozzi ser ikunu inxtraw taħt sistema ġdida u għandhom joqgħodu għaliha kollha.

 

Id-diffikulta hi dwar il-karozzi l-qodma li ser ikollhom iħallsu din it-taxxa ukoll b’effett minn l-1 ta’ Jannar li ġej. Il-Gvern qed jgħid li din hi taxxa ambjentali għax tintaxxa lil min iħammeġ l-iktar.

 

Issa taxxa ambjentali għandha l-iskop li tinkoraġixxi bdil tal-imġieba ta’ dak li jkun. Biex jevita li tħallas din it-taxxa irid ikun possibli illi ġġib ruħek b’mod differenti. Issa l-alternattivi għal karozza qadima huma tnejn : jew tixtri karozza ġdida inkella tagħmel użu mit-trasport pubbliku. Għal min il-mezzi tiegħu huma limitati t-trasport pubbliku huwa l-uniku alternattiva. Fl-assenza ta’ transport pubbliku effiċjenti jiġifieri, ma teżisti l-ebda alternattiva. Ikollok tħallas it-taxxa.

 

Kien ikun iktar għaqli illi l-implementazzjoni tat-taxxa taċ-ċirkulazzjoni għall-karozzi l-qodma tidħol fis-seħħ mar-riforma tat-trasport pubbliku. B’hekk ikun hemm vera għażla, għażla realistika anke għall-faxxa soċjali li għandha riżorsi limitati. Kif inhi implimentata għaldaqstant it-taxxa taċ-ċirkulazzjoni hi soċjalment rigressiva u dan għax tolqot ħażin lill-faxxa soċjali t’isfel mingħajr ma tipprovdi alternattivi.

 

Hemm ukoll punt ieħor : il-Gvern iddeċieda li ġaladarba karozza hi qadima bil-fors tħammeġ iktar minn karozza ġdida jew minn karozza li ilha fit-triq għal numru inqas ta’ snin. Dan m’huwiex korrett. Kien ikun aħjar li kieku minflok ma ntużat l-eta tal-karozza sar użu mill-emissjonijiet attwali kif dawn wara kollox jirriżultaw mit-testijiet tal-VRT. Ma ninsewx li wieħed mit-testijiet li jsiru lill-karozzi meta jsirilhom il-VRT huwa kemm joħroġ exhaust. L-ADT taf kemm huma l-emissjonijiet tal-karozzi kollha kull sentejn u m’għandu jkollha l-ebda diffikulta li tagħmel użu minn din l-informazzjoni biex fuqha jiġi determinat l-ammont ta’ taxxa ta’ cirkulazzjoni pagabbli dwar il-karozzi.

 

B’hekk ikunu intaxxati l-karozzi li jħammġu verament, u min jieħu ħsieb il-karozza tiegħu ma jkunx ippenalizzat bħal min jittraskurha kontinwament.

 

Wara kollox mhux kulħadd bħal Austin : bil-Jaguar bla taxxi wara l-bieb !

Reflections on Transport Policy

published on Sunday August 24, 2008 by Carmel Cacopardo __________________________________________________________________________           It is not often that different issues, which could possibly lead to the formulation of one coherent policy, crop up simultaneously. Three such issues all dealing with transport policy are currently (and separately) under discussion. If adequately coordinated it could be possible to formulate one coherent transport policy that facilitates our mobility and simultaneously leads to less congested roads and a cleaner air. The reduction of sulphur and lead in the fuels we used way back in the 1980s and the recent introduction of bio-diesel on the market were significant steps forward which unfortunately were not followed up with the formulation of a clear and coherent transport policy. Likewise the subsidies dished out by the State for the modernisation of the public transport fleet were limited to issues of accessibility (low floor). Environmental indicators published recently by Mepa clearly show the main traffic arteries as the most densely polluted ones. The pollution levels in St Anne Street, Floriana sticks out, as do other residential areas, which have to put up with through traffic. Notably Msida, Fgura and Hamrun. The reform of car registration taxation was triggered by EU infringement procedures as well as ECJ decisions relative to other European States. Car registration taxes, which in Malta are substantial, have, to date, not been a sufficient deterrent to placing 292,000 cars on Malta’s roads. The issue of transport reform has been neglected for decades that it has now developed into a time bomb. The inefficient public transport is indirectly the cause of a large number of cars on the road and consequently is contributing to the further deterioration of the air we breathe. These three issues are being dealt with separately, with Mepa analysing the effects, the Ministry of Finance seeking to retain taxation at its present levels and the Ministry for Transport facing the music. Instead of being separate issues, the government should have taken this once in a lifetime opportunity of formulating a coherent transport policy with the Minister for the Environment taking the lead. This is the policy advocated by the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, which though approved by Cabinet after extensive consultation with stakeholders over a long time frame, seems to have been placed in hibernation. The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands in fact considers it necessary to promote a sustainable transport system and calls for the formulation of an “integrated transport strategy”. Transport policy, the strategy says, has an important role in nurturing sustainable communities. As indicated in the document issued by the Ministry of Transport some weeks ago, it is envisaged to overhaul public transport such that an integrated network is created making more of Malta accessible. When this is achieved one of the contributors to social exclusion would have been tackled. The reform of public transport is crucial in the implementation of a transport policy because if reasonable accessibility were guaranteed, as it should be, through an efficient and punctual public transport, more custom would be attracted thereby reducing the number of cars on our roads. In such circumstances most of us would consider seriously making use of public transport more often. In the short term this would have the effect of reducing the number of cars temporarily our roads. In the long term it could reduce the purchase of cars. The most important effect on our families would be substantial improvements in the quality of the air we breathe coupled with fewer expenses. In these circumstances car registration tax assumes the function of an environmental tax. In fact, the few details known so far indicate that emissions and car size would be the criteria on the basis of which the quantum of car registration tax payable would be determined. The splitting of the tax due into two, part due on registration and the rest payable throughout the car’s lifetime is also reasonable and an effective manner in which to apply the polluter pays principle. This would assist in the determination of impacts that vary throughout the lifetime of a car. Varying emissions could be determined through the VRT test, which should henceforth be used as a tool for determining the environmental impacts of cars currently on the road. This is a long-term view of transport. It will undoubtedly not be to everybody’s liking. Car dealers, panel beaters, car mechanics would not be amused if fewer cars were our roads as it would reduce their work. Fewer cars on the road would also reduce government’s income because fewer taxes would be collected. But on the plus side it would be a bonus to our health. Large communities living in those areas, which, year in year out are identified as having low air quality, would heave a sigh of relief. Those who over the years have developed respiratory diseases, most notably asthma, would welcome any improvements as these would be a boost to their quality of life.

Taxxa ta’ Reġistrazzjoni fuq il-Karozzi : Dewmien eżaġerat

 

 

L-importaturi tal-karozzi qed igorru għax naqsu l-ordnijiet. Dawn naqsu għax in-nies qed tittama li l-Gvern iraħħas il-prezz tal-karozzi. Kulħadd għandu għajnejh f’wiċċu u anke’ biss mir-riklami fuq it-televison taljan malajr tinduna li l-karozzi f’Malta mhux irħas.

 

Qed jingħad  (u x’aktarx li huwa veru) li hu fid-Danimarka biss li t-taxxa fuq il-karozzi hi għola minn Malta.

 

Il-posizzjoni hi waħda sempliċi ħafna. Il-Gvern kien kostrett iħabbar li ser jobdi lill-EU u għaldaqstant iddikjara iktar kmieni din is-sena illi ser jirrevedi t-taxxa tar-reġistrazzjoni fuq il-karozzi billi b’mod partikolari jindirizza l-kwistjoni tal-VAT (l-EU ddikjarat li ma tistax titħallas taxxa fuq taxxa) u tad-diskriminazzjoni fl-applikazzjoni tat-taxxa bejn karozzi ġodda u karozzi second hand.

 

Il-Gvern ħabbar il-kriterji li fuqhom ser jimxi : taxxa tar-reġistrazzjoni li tvarja skond l-emissjonijiet tal-karozzi u t-tul tagħhom (minħabba l-ispazju li jiġi okkupat u allura l-effett fuq il-parking u fuq il-konġestjoni fit-toroq) kif ukoll liċenzja li tvarja skond kemm tkun ilha fit-triq il-karozza. Il-Gvern ħabbar ukoll li m’huwiex qed jippjana li jiġbor iktar taxxa milli qed jiġbor illum.

 

Ovvjament il-Gvern inqabad fuq sieq waħda. Kif iddikjara l-Ministru Fenech kien jippreferi li jibqa’ bis-sistema kif inhi. Ma ried jibdel xejn. Fil-passat irrifjuta li jisma’ l-leħen ta’ min intebaħ x’inhu ġej. Dawn huma l-konsegwenzi.

 

Ser jibqa’ jkollna iktar konsegwenzi minn dawn sakemm il-Gvern jibqa’ mingħalih li jista’ jimxi waħdu. Ma jagħti każ ta’ ħadd u ta’ xejn iżda biss ta’ dak li jidhirlu hu. Din is-sistema l-ġdida tat-taxxa ta’ reġistrazzjoni tal-karozzi imissha ilha li saret. Imma l-Gvern ipposponiha mhux biss biex jevita li jagħmilha imma ukoll biex ma tidħolx lejliet l-elezzjoni.

 

Għad irridu naraw kif ser tkun implimentata t-taxxa l-ġdida biex inkunu nistgħu nikkummentaw fuqha. S’issa dwar id-dikjarazzjonijiet li saru m’hemm xejn xi tgħid ħlief li d-dewmien hu eżaġerat.

 

Leħen Ieħor Favur is-Serjeta’

 

 

 

Nifraħ lil The Today Public Policy Institute u lill-awtur it-Tabib George Debono għall-pubblikazzjoni tar-rapport “Towards A Low Carbon Society ; The Nation’s Health, Energy Security and Fossil Fuels.”

 

M’għandi l-ebda dubju illi din il-pubblikazzjoni ser tkun ta’ għajnuna kbira biex iċċaqlaq lill-awtoritajiet ħalli jaġixxu biex jintroduċu miżuri li jwasslu għat-tnaqqis fl-użu tal-karozzi u użu ikbar tat-trasport pubbliku.

 

F’pajjiż żgħir bħal dan dan huwa possibli. Nistgħu nagħmluh bla diffikulta għax id-distanzi huma kważi kollha żgħar.

 

Huwa tajjeb li r-rapport jemfasizza fuq il-ħtieġa li t-tassazzjoni ambjentali għandha tintuża bħala strument biex tgħin fil-bidla tal-imġieba tan-nies. Opportunita tad-deheb qegħda wara l-bieb : ir-reviżjoni tat-taxxa tar-reġistrazzjoni tal-karozzi. Nittamaw li l-Gvern iwettaq dak li ilu jwiegħed, jiġifieri li s-sistema l-ġdida tkun waħda li tiskuragixxi lil min iħammeg.

 

Huwa neċessarju illi s-sidien tal-karozzi tal-linja jirrealizzaw illi l-kriżi tal-prezz taż-żjut m’hiex biss problema. Hija ukoll opportunita għall-komunita biex tnaqqas id-dipendenza fuq l-użu tal-karozzi privati u bħala riżultat ta’ dan tagħmel użu iktar frekwenti mit-trasport pubbliku. L-opportunita qegħda hemm biex nisfruttawha kemm-il darba t-trasport pubbliku jkun reformat, jaqdi iktar lokalitajiet permezz ta’ rotot ġodda, jkun puntwali u jagħti servizz iktar fit-tul matul il-ġurnata.