The report "Green growth indicators" shows that in 2017 the level of pollution in the country exceeded twice the daily standards established for the city of Chisinau. The main cause were automobiles, in particular diesel engine emissions. Environmental organizations are concerned that the situation will aggravate if a bill registered in Parliament, which increases the age limit for automobile imports, is signed into law.
In a press conference at IPN, Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov, executive director at "EcoContact" NGO, said that according to collected data in Chisinau municipality, in 2019, the average age of cars is 16.87 years old. At the same time, the average age of the trolleybus fleet is around 12 years, while the average age of the bus and minibus fleet is over 15 years. The average number of cars and motorcycles per household is 0.73 units.
Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov concluded that "There is quite a large number of cars already operating in the city. As an extra circumstance, the average age is quite high. The 15-16 year age is quite high, both from the environmental impact point of view, as well as the traffic safety point of view. We are very confident that, if Parliament signs this bill into law, a chain effect would lead to the importation of low quality fuel”.
According to Andrei Isac, an independent environmental expert, in July, the number of officially registered vehicles (including trucks and tractors) in the Republic of Moldova exceeded one million. About 300 thousand vehicles are registered in Chisinau and 200 to 300 thousand cars commute to the capital on a daily basis. Most of them are old. "If we import buses, cars and old trucks, they will only aggravate the problem of pollution. We would like the new government to take this into account and to ensure the continuity of processes that are in place, which are meant to improve the situation, processes started via signed conventions and agreements", noted Andrei Isac.
The president of the National Environmental Center, Ina Coșeru, said that used or diesel-powered transport should be replaced by hybrid vehicles. In this regard, countries that provide facilities for the purchase of hybrid means of transport are a good example. Alternatively, cycling may be an option and dignitaries are urged to set such an example. However, the draft law that allows the import of older transport will escalate climate change in the Republic of Moldova. The expert pleaded to the Parliament to come up with other initiatives that would favor modern, environmentally friendly transport in order to protect the environment and the health of the population.
Environmental protection representatives of the civil society express deep concern about the promotion of a bill registered on July 22, 2019, in Parliament. The draft proposes an age limit increase, from 10 to 15 years, for the import of means of auto transport designed for more than 20 passengers. Additionally, a 3 year age limit increase is proposed on the import of vehicles with a capacity of up to 20 passengers, from 7 years to 10 years. Moreover, the bill establishes the maximum age limit for cars, especially those providing paid passengers transport services. The age limit will be 25 years for buses and 18 years for minibuses and cars. The environmental representatives say that if the bill is signed into law, an air pollution hike will occur. The hike will happen due to the age limit increase of the automobile fleet, which is one of the primary environmental pollution factors of the air, water and soil.
