Climate change is set to be a key theme of tomorrow’s budget for 2020, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat revealing that a cut-off date for the purchase of petrol or diesel cars will be officially set.

“Tomorrow will be the first sign of our sustainable economic plan to tackle climate change. This is the way forward. Cars are our biggest polluter and we need to start making brave decisions moving forward,” Muscat said.

Insisting that the government’s plans would focus on positive measures, Muscat also revealed that electric car users will now be offered reduced utility bills, while plans will be unveiled to create charging ports all across the islands.

Sustainability was also a theme of Muscat’s address, as he repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining measures that had been implemented in the previous years, adding that sectors of society may not always be happy if things don’t come their way.

“We can dish out the money but what happens if the Health Minister says that we need to introduce new medicine? What do we do if the Justice Minister insists that we need more resources for the court so that cases are concluded quicker?”

He did say, however, that no new taxes or tariffs will be introduced. Pensions and disability benefits will also increase.

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