Clearing the air

With new maritime regulations coming into effect across the Mediterranean, Dayna Clarke Camilleri interviews Nicholas Barbara, head of conservation at BirdLife Malta, on what sulphur controls mean for Valletta's Grand Harbour. From the hidden cost of cruise ship emissions to the urgent push for nitrogen oxide limits, he explains why decisive action is needed to safeguard public health and natural ecosystems.

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In the heart of the Mediterranean, Valletta's grand Harbour stands as an iconic gateway for millions of visitors and thousands of vessels every year. But behind the beauty of Malta's historic port lies an environmental challenge that has long threatened public health and biodiversity. As Malta enforces new maritime regulations to improve air quality, BirdLife Malta is emerging as a voice demanding cleaner skies and healthier cities.

Nicholas Barbara, a seasoned conservationist and BirdLife Malta's head of conservation, is leading this charge. With a strong background in science, ecology, and environmental policy, Barbara has spearheaded numerous high-impact campaigns focused on nature protection, sustainable land use, and air quality, cementing his role as one of Malta's most influential environmental advocates.

Furthermore, since 2016, Barbara and his team have pushed for tighter controls on ship emissions in the Mediterranean. This campaign culminated in enforcing the Mediterranean Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) in May 2025. But for Barbara, SECA is just the beginning of a broader, urgent mission.

What does the enforcement of the Mediterranean Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) mean specifically for Malta's air quality, particularly in port areas like the Grand Harbour?

The enforcement of the SECA in the Mediterranean translates to a reduced sulphur content in the fuel of all vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea. After combustion, this will have the added benefit of reduced sulphur oxides in the air. This is expected to improve air quality across the region, especially in ports where congested maritime traffic results, such as the Grand Harbour.

Nicholas Barbara

BirdLife Malta has campaigned for this regulation since 2016. How does it feel to see it finally come into effect, and what role did Malta play in pushing for this?

It is a great achievement that was made possible by the foresight of approaching this improvement at a Mediterranean scale along with our Mediterranean partners. It's an investment in our collective environmental health that we are proud to be part of.

What tangible improvements should Maltese residents living near harbours expect to see or feel in the coming months?

While a reduction in sulphur oxides in the air is not something you may visually perceive, the long-term benefits of less sulphur oxides in the air will translate into improved air quality and fewer ailments associated with exposure to air pollution on Malta's population health.

Do you foresee challenges in enforcement or compliance from ships passing close to or docking in Malta? How is Malta preparing to monitor compliance?

This is still a grey area that falls under the responsibility of port authorities and the Environment and Resources Authority. The means and technology to measure pollutants coming out of individual ships exist, so there should be no lack of means to undertake this task.

Cruise ships are a significant concern in Valletta's Grand Harbour. Can you explain why they are such significant polluters even while stationary?

Cruise ships are the equivalent of massive hotels. While they are stationary, they are still a residence for thousands of holiday-makers who require all the services a luxury boat is expected to have, from electricity and water supply, catering, air conditioning, and all activities that require an energy supply. For such reasons, cruise liners traditionally need to continue burning fuel to generate this energy. Suppose you picture this energy supply within an area like the Grand Harbour. In that case, you practically have a small power station going on, emitting fuel combustion products into the air at the height level of some areas surrounding the port, such as Floriana residences on one side and Birgu and Isla residences on the other. Depending on wind directions, the plumes generated from berthed ships come in direct contact with residents, reducing air quality in the area with its added health effects, especially if exposed for long durations.

Your measurements show ultrafine particle concentrations 80 times higher than clean air levels in the Grand Harbour. What does this mean in practical terms for public health and biodiversity?

So far, air quality legislation, even at the EU level, has ignored the issue of ultrafine particles, which are known to penetrate the human body through respiration. These spikes in concentrations are very evident whenever a vessel passes through a given area due to fuel combustion and are directly related to the fuel content and type used.

Cruise ships in Valletta

Now that SECA is in place, BirdLife Malta advocates for a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA). Why is this the next critical step?

Nitrogen remains a significant and unregulated source of air pollution in the Mediterranean. After the success of SECA, it is logical to advocate for implementing NECA to continue improving the air quality within the region.

What are the most significant barriers to NECA adoption in the Mediterranean, and how can civil society organisations help overcome them?

One of the main challenges to NECA adoption in the Mediterranean lies in securing the participation and compliance of non-European coastal states. While European Union countries generally have the institutional frameworks, regulatory capacity, and financial resources to implement environmental regulations like SECA and NECA, many non-EU Mediterranean countries face significant economic and infrastructural constraints. For example, such countries might find challenges in monitoring and enforcing compliance effectively. Civil society organisations can push for international funding mechanisms (e.g. through the EU, IMO) that support developing countries in the region with capacity building, technical training and monitoring tools. NGOs can promote cross-border collaboration and dialogue between EU and non-EU states to share best practices and build trust. Civil society organisations can also lead public awareness campaigns that frame NECA as a public health issue, making it relevant to local communities.

You mention that 97% of NO₂ measurements in Mediterranean ports exceeded WHO guidelines. How urgent is this issue for port cities like Valletta?

Port cities like Valletta are home to thousands of residents and serve as central hubs for tourism, attracting large numbers of visitors year-round. As a result, the air quality in these cities directly affects the health of local communities and the experience of tourists. Reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in such areas is therefore critical to protect the long-term health of residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and older people, and ensure that visitors are not exposed to harmful air pollution during their stay. Cleaner air contributes to a more liveable urban environment, enhances the city's reputation as a sustainable destination, and supports broader efforts to balance tourism with public health and environmental protection.

How aware do you think the Maltese public is of the health risks from ship emissions, and what is BirdLife Malta doing to raise awareness?

People residing around the Grand Harbour are very aware of ship emissions, and some concerns are even nowadays spearheaded by local grassroots NGOs from harbour regions. However, this issue seems very much diluted away from port areas and is coming largely due to a lack of awareness as well as the presence of other more immediate contributing factors that deteriorate air quality, such as vehicular traffic and construction emissions. 

Interview with Dr Axel Friedrich air quality expert during a press event with air quality measurements at Grand Harbour (June 2023)

Can you tell us more about the 'Together Against Air Pollution from Ships' project and any success stories or milestones achieved since 2016?

'Together Against Air Pollution from Ships' is coordinated by NABU Hamburg (BirdLife Germany) along with several other international partners, such as BirdLife Greece and other NGOs in Italy, Spain, and France. The long-term goal is to establish a network among Mediterranean countries supporting the establishment of Emission Control Areas (ECAS) and sustainable shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.

Another notable success story from the project was implementing the shore-to-ship power system for cruise liners in Valletta. BirdLife Malta was among the first to advocate for this initiative, where docked cruise ships are required to connect to the national electricity grid instead of running their onboard generators and burning fuel. This shift will significantly reduce harmful emissions in the port area by eliminating the discharge of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter while ships are berthed. This system marks a significant step forward in improving air quality for a city like Valletta, which is densely populated and frequently visited by tourists. 

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