Ship emissions are a silent but dangerous threat to public health and the environment — especially in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
This month, MONEY magazine published “Clearing the air,” an in-depth feature examining how new maritime fuel regulations are already improving air quality. The article highlights the long-standing efforts of BirdLife Malta to push for these crucial changes across the Mediterranean.
Since 2016, BirdLife Malta has been campaigning for cleaner air by calling for the creation of Sulphur and Nitrogen Emission Control Areas (SECA and NECA). These zones enforce stricter fuel standards for ships entering the Mediterranean, reducing harmful emissions near coastal cities.
As of 1st May 2025, SECA is now officially in place. This marks a major win for public health, as ships must now use cleaner fuels with lower sulphur content.
In Valletta, where ultrafine particle levels in the harbour air can spike, the change is critical. The risks are highest in port cities, where emissions affect thousands of residents daily — especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
BirdLife Malta’s Nicholas Barbara told MONEY that the next step is a NECA — a zone targeting nitrogen oxide, another harmful pollutant from ships.
Cleaner air is possible. But protecting public health means pushing harder for stronger environmental regulations at sea — and on land.
Read the whole article which explores the impact of new maritime fuel regulations in the Mediterranean—specifically sulphur emissions limits—on air quality in Valletta’s Grand Harbour here.