Written by: Leonor Cruz, Dr Suzanne Maas
Introduction: The Climate Crisis & The European Green Deal
Climate change is here. 2023 was the hottest year on record. The average global temperature was 1.48 ºC higher than at the end of the 19th century. A 2ºC rise compared to pre-industrialised levels holds a dangerous consequence for the environment and what has been proved to contribute to the increase of temperatures is the rise of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are produced by human activity. Therefore, it’s crucial and urgent for global warming to stay below a 2ºC increase. Friends of the Earth Malta, alongside other environmental NGOs, advocate for a 1.5ºC target, in line with the Paris Agreement.
China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Brazil were the world’s largest GHG emitters in 2023. In terms of contribution to the EU27’s GHG emissions in 2023, Germany was the largest emitter, followed by France, Italy, Poland and Spain. The EU is a main contributor to climate change and therefore a key player in the UN climate change talks.
Under the Paris Agreement (2015), the EU committed to reduce 55% greenhouse emissions compared to 1990 by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Therefore in 2023, the EU Introduced the European Green Deal as the EU’s ambitious roadmap to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and investing in green energy, technologies, and sustainable development.
Climate Action in Europe: Progress and Challenges
In the EU, GHG emissions have been consistently decreasing from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, EU total net greenhouse gas emissions decreased to 37% below 1990 levels, marking a significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. According to the European Parliament (2018), the drop in emissions was due to a decline in coal use and growth of renewable energy sources, supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe.
To meet the climate change targets, the EU has two main mechanisms in place. Firstly, there is the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), a carbon market which is based on the polluter pays principle: the more a company pollutes, the more they need to pay. ETS accounts for 40% of the EU’s total GHG emissions and covers the emissions from large-scale facilities in the power industry sectors, the aviation sector (within Europe), and from 2024 also the maritime sector. The EU emissions trading system has managed to reduce emissions in these sectors by 47% between 2005 and 2023. The goal is to reach a 65% decrease by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
Secondly, the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) sets national targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in sectors not covered by the ETS – transport, agriculture, buildings and waste management. These sectors account for the majority of the EU’s GHG emissions: 60% of total EU emissions.
Malta’s Role in the European Context
While the EU has made progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the success varies among member states due to differences in economic structures, energy dependencies and availability of resources.
In 2023, Malta was the country with the biggest increase of emissions (30%) compared to 2005 levels, in the sectors falling under the ESR: domestic transport, buildings, agriculture, small industry and waste (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Infographic comparing EU countries’s estimated reduction or increase of emissions compared to 2005 levels (%)
Source: European Environment Agency – https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180706STO07407/what-progress-has-the-eu-made-against-climate-change-infographics
However, Malta was also the EU country that had the lowest absolute GHG emissions in the EU in 2023, due to its small size, lower than average per capita energy use, and limited energy-intensive industry. Still, almost 90% of Malta’s energy supply comes from fossil fuels, primarily imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel the Delimara power station. 
Fossil gas is a major emitter of carbon dioxide and gas extraction and transport are also associated with leaking methane – a potent GHG – throughout the supply chain (Friends of the Earth Malta, 2023). Malta’s high population growth and density, limited space for large-scale renewable energy projects, high dependency on imported resources and limited natural resources creates difficult challenges for a green transition and to reduce GHG emissions. While Malta’s profile makes it more challenging to reduce its emissions, compared to other EU countries that can transition large industries to green energy and achieve significant emissions reductions, there is still plenty of scope for reducing emissions.
Malta can reduce its GHG emissions by shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy, implementing energy savings and higher energy efficiency standards in buildings, reducing emissions from the transport system which today is highly dependent on private cars, and reducing emissions from waste management.
Figure 2: Infographic comparing total greenhouse gas emissions by EU countries in 2023
Souce: European Parliament- https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180301STO98928/greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-country-and-sector-infographic
As an island in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme heat, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, lower crop yields, less rain, risk of droughts, energy deficit and more diseases which will affect more the vulnerable groups (children, elderly, pregnant women), demanding urgent adaptation and investment in sustainability. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in sustainable development and climate action, which should include expanding solar energy through rooftop installations and community energy initiatives, promote sustainable transport systems to reduce car dependency and improve energy efficiency while transitioning industries toward greener technologies.
Despite differing mission levels, achieving the climate EU goals is a shared responsibility and effort which Malta needs to prioritize. The alarming rise in Malta’s GHG emissions should act as a wake up call for our government, and hold accountable local authorities, businesses and ourselves to promote and prioritize a more sustainable and greener Malta.
In our 2023 report ‘Towards a Fossil Free Malta’, we shared our four recommendations for a fossil free future for Malta:
- Act like your house is on fire! We must take ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now to address the climate crisis.
- No new infrastructure for fossil fuels! We must ensure that any public investment in our energy system is compatible with climate targets and avoid funding any new fossil fuel infrastructure at all costs.
- Invest in the energy of the future! We must invest public money in energy savings, renewables (like solar and wind), and community energy.
- Envision a fossil free future for Malta! We must prepare the country for a climate-proof future and move away from fossil fuels as fast as possible, through a clear renewable energy policy supported by data, and a phase-out plan for gas by 2035 latest.
Sources
Friends of the Earth Malta (2023) – TOWARDS A FOSSIL FREE MALTA: A report on the energy system in Malta, its climate impacts, and a vision for the future. https://foemalta.org/download/climate-report-towards-a-fossil-free-malta/
Malta’s Preventive Action Plan: Gas Security of Supply Version: March 2023. https://sustainability.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MTs-Preventive-Action-Plan-2023.pdf
European Parliament – Infographic: how climate change is affecting Europe. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180905STO11945/infographic-how-climate-change-is-affecting-europe
Global Climate Highlights 2023 – Copernicus: 2023 is the hottest year on record, with global temperatures close to the 1.5°C limit. https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2023-hottest-year-record
Paris Agreement. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf
European Green Deal. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/delivering-european-green-deal_en
European Parliament – What progress has the EU made against climate change? (infographics). https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180706STO07407/what-progress-has-the-eu-made-against-climate-change-infographics
European Parliament – Greenhouse gas emissions by country and sector (infographic). https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180301STO98928/greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-country-and-sector-infographic
European Parliament – The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and its reform in brief. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20170213STO62208/the-eu-emissions-trading-scheme-ets-and-its-reform-in-brief
European Parliament – Effort sharing 2021-2030: targets and flexibilities. https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/effort-sharing-member-states-emission-targets/effort-sharing-2021-2030-targets-and-flexibilities_en
European Parliament – EU measures against climate change. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20180703STO07129/eu-measures-against-climate-change
European Parliament – What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050