As there was a doctor in the room, the audience was immediately reminded of the severity of the issue. As a public health specialist, Stefan Buttigieg, M.D., shared the concerning fact that in Malta over 500 people per year die prematurely due to the effects of air pollution.

To address the impacts of transport on health, he put forward the idea of a ‘one health’ approach, considering human health, environmental and animal health all together. He advocated for putting active mobility as priority number one, to safeguard and improve public health, both in terms of physical health and mental wellbeing. He explained that if we would design our lives around active commutes, walking or cycling to and from work or school every day, the cumulative impact on our health, of being active on a daily basis, would be very positive. He added however, that for this to happen, we would need the infrastructure to make that change.

Ms. Martina Oliva shared that as a young person, she finds it extremely important to consider how comfortable and safe children are feeling in terms of their transport and mobility. She commented how walking, the oldest and simplest form of transport, has become unnecessarily complicated, due to the shortcomings of the infrastructure, chipped off pavements and barriers in the way. This is not only the case for children and youths, but for anyone who walks, including people with impaired mobility, elderly persons or parents with a pushchair. She commented that there is a clear connection between transport, pollution and climate change, as land transport is one of the main sources of carbon emissions in Malta, and that there is a need for immediate action to address this.

Commenting on the pilot site for the Varcities project in Gżira, Dr. Edward Duca explained that the street sees a high level of air pollution due to traffic and very limited greenery. This also contributes to what is called the Urban Heat Island effect, a higher ambient temperature due to a high level of human activity and covered surfaces. Surveys with local residents show clearly that people want more green and open spaces, to have space for physical activity and to contribute to better mental wellbeing.

Investing in nationwide walking and cycling infrastructure can contribute to reaping physical and mental health benefits. Dr Mark Scerri added that this would need to be complemented by other policy changes, such as the introduction of dedicated bus lanes and a Bus Rapid Transit system, or even light rail on the longer term, but also disincentives for the private car, for example through congestion charging. He further commented that while a shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV) is being put forward by the government as one of the main investments in sustainable mobility in Malta, they do not present a solution to all transport related issues. While they can solve problems related to carbon emissions (depending on the source of the energy used to generate the electricity), particulate matter emissions of EVs are on par with those from ICE vehicles, primarily because of their heavier weight leading to increased generation of particulate matter from abrasion of tyres and road surfaces. He concluded that we need more than one measure to shift towards a sustainable mobility system; not just electric vehicles.

Transport does not have an impact only on physical health, but also on mental health and wellbeing, in terms of feelings of stress and fear, as well as the opportunities (or lack thereof) of social contact. The current transport system is felt as stressful by the panelists, for all types of travellers: be it on foot, on the bus, or by car. Martina shared her dream of a future in which people can feel safe when they leave their home, living in a society where people are aware of each other’s needs, where roads and public spaces are safer, more pleasant and more serene.

As the seminar was broadcast live online, the audience could pose their questions to the panelists. A member of the audience asked the panelists if they could, thinking of their current place of work or education, actually travel there by active or public transport. What could change people’s attitudes and travel needs, and what would they need to make their journey more easy, comfortable and timely? Comments ranged from a plea for an extended network of smaller, on-demand buses, to safer and more green infrastructure to make active travel a safer and more comfortable option.