Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546858
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS 12 takeaways from Gozo's THE Gozo Climate Neutral Plan: A Strategic Reference Framework, published in Sep- tember by the Gozo Regional Development Authority and KPMG, sets out a roadmap for taking Gozo towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The document is a discussion paper and non-binding strate- gic reference framework, rather than adopted Government pol- icy. Its proposals remain sub- ject to central Government ap- proval, legislative processes and funding decisions. The framework draws on an emissions inventory covering 2016 to 2023, six stakeholder workshops, an online survey in- volving 132 respondents and a public feedback process held in March and April 2026. Private vehicle use emerged as the public's biggest climate concern, with 60% of survey respondents identifying it as Gozo's most carbon-intensive sector. Here are the 12 main imple- mentable measures identified by the plan: 1. Tourists could pay more to take their cars to Gozo Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million The plan proposes dynamic pricing for vehicles carried on ferries through Mġarr Harbour, specifically targeting non-res- ident tourist cars during peak periods. The aim is to make bringing a private car to Gozo less attrac- tive and encourage visitors to use public transport and shared mobility instead. The measure is one of those the plan considers implementa- ble within the next two years. 2. Parking in congested areas could become a paid service Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million Perhaps the most direct inter- vention in everyday mobility is a proposal for demand-based paid parking. The plan envisages charges in congested urban centres and other high-traffic locations, with the intention of discourag- ing excessive private car use and encouraging public transport. The proposal falls within the €0.1 million to €5 million low- cost category. In other words, the climate strategy envisages using the price of parking as a tool to change behaviour. 3. Some parts of Gozo could become car-free Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million The plan proposes tempo- rary or permanent car-free and low-traffic zones in popular tourist locations, historic cen- tres and village squares. The measure would reduce vehicle access in selected areas while potentially creating more space for pedestrians. It is another short-term meas- ure, with an estimated cost of between €0.1 million and €5 million. 4. Gozo would get a redesigned bus network Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Medium scale — €5 mil- lion–€50 million The strategy does not simply propose making car use more expensive. It also calls for a substantial rethink of public transport, in- cluding smaller buses better suited to Gozo's narrow streets and a dedicated Victoria Circu- lar Route connecting adminis- trative, commercial and service hubs. This is classified as a short- term measure, but carries a higher estimated cost of €5 mil- lion to €50 million. The proposal is effectively a combination of a carrot and stick: improve the alternative to the private car while making car use less attractive in certain cir- cumstances. 5. Street lighting would go smart Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Medium scale — €5 mil- lion–€50 million Gozo's municipal street lighting could be replaced by high-efficiency LED systems equipped with automated mon- itoring, dimming and predictive diagnostics. The intention is to reduce en- ergy consumption while allow- ing lighting systems to respond more efficiently to actual de- mand and maintenance needs. The plan puts this in the 0–2-year short-term catego- JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The Gozo Channel (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)