Youth for the Environment( Y4TE) and Gozo Univeristy Group (GUG) have conducted a survey about what factors a student consider before purchasing a car. The car could be a new or a second hand car. Another aim of this survey is to see if there is enough knowledge about the bad impact of cars on the environment.

The results of the survey were discussed in a debate which was held at the University of Malta during Green Expo. In the panel of the discussion there were Prof Ghirlando, Dr Maria Attard (Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development) and Anthony Briffa (a Gozitan student).

63.5% of those which answered the survey have a driving license. The survey showed that the majority of the people (88.5%) considered price before purchasing a car, but then at the same time the majority of the students (64.8%) would choose to have a car installed with eco-friendly technology even though it would be an added expensive. Another question was about, if your car has an engine that runs on a particular fuel, but the fuel has a higher price tag to fill you tank than a different fuel, what would you do? 74.5% answered that they will still pay for the fuel regardless of the price, 12.1% said that they would mix fuels to save money, while 15.4% said that they would not buy the fuel and take the bus.

Prof Ghirlando pointed out that according to economics when the price increases, the demand decreases. Dr Maria Attard explained that the concept of the Green Travel Plan is not a fixed science and that it must be updated every two to three years. Anthony Briffa explained that one looks at a car as a sense of commodity.

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