As an NGO, Friends of the Earth Malta is a pioneer for change relating to waste management and initiating the implementation of long-term action plans to tackle waste issues.
Fossil Free Malta
What is our vision?
The burning of coal, oil, and gas, as well as other human practices such as intensive agriculture and deforestation contribute to the generation of excessive greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere and lead to climate change impacts across the globe. Not only is climate change posing significant environmental issues, but it is increasing social inequality within and between countries.
We need to move away from fossil fuels – oil, coal and gas – as soon as possible. New fossil fuel infrastructure is incompatible with global, EU, and national carbon emission reduction targets. The proposed Melita gas pipeline would lock Malta into a fossil fuel future. We need to ensure that any public investment is compatible with climate targets, and avoid funding any new fossil fuel infrastructure at all costs.
Our country should prepare for a climate proof future and move away from fossil fuels as fast as possible. We need to ensure there is a plan for a gas phase-out by 2035 latest. In the short term, we need a new Renewable Energy Policy, outlining the pathway to zero emissions and clean renewable energy for the Maltese Islands.
5 reasons to stop using gas as a fuel
Today, Malta’s energy demands are primarily met through the use of gas-fired turbines using liquefied natural gas (LNG), a polluting fossil fuel. It’s imported to Malta via marine carriers, which involves considerable energy for its transport and contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions throughout its lifecycle.
Swipe the carousel to find out more about pitfalls of using gas:
A gas pipeline to Malta?
We need to move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. New fossil fuel infrastructure is incompatible with global, EU, and national carbon emission reduction targets. This includes the proposed Melita gas pipeline, which would lock Malta into a fossil fuel future! We should invest in the energy of the future, not of the past!
Watch the video below to learn more about the proposed Melita gas pipeline, and why we should push for investment in renewables, energy savings and community energy instead.
5 Reasons Why Hydrogen Is Not a Green Fuel
Since the EU will not finance purely fossil fuel infrastructure any longer, the Melita TransGas Pipeline was rebranded as a ‘hydrogen-ready’ pipeline. However, experts state it is not that straightforward to make gas infrastructure suitable for hydrogen transport. It is a much smaller molecule and needs at least 3 times more energy to be transported through a pipeline, as well as posing greater risks for leakages. We need to ensure that hydrogen is not used as a veil to greenwash the fossil gas pipeline project.
While hydrogen may be presented as a type of ‘green’ energy, currently 99% of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels. The main type of hydrogen available today, ‘grey’ hydrogen, is created via steam-reforming from gas or coal – yes, fossil fuels! ‘Blue’ hydrogen is based on the same process as ‘grey’, but includes carbon capture and storage (CCS) mechanisms to reduce carbon emissions, which have yet to be proven to work.
Swipe the carousel to find out why hydrogen is not a green fuel at all:
Climate publications
News
Reflections from the Ulex Training on Strategy Making
As an NGO, Friends of the Earth Malta is a pioneer for change relating to waste management and initiating the implementation of long-term action plans to tackle waste issues.
The Aarhus Convention: Your Right to Know, Speak Up & Act for the Environment!
The Aarhus Convention is an international treaty (agreement) that gives people and NGOs three key rights when it comes to environmental matters:
Access to Information – People have the right to know about pollution, land use, and environmental risks.
Public Participation – Citizens should have a say in decisions about major projects, policies, and laws.
Access to Justice – If authorities fail to protect the environment, people should be able to challenge them in court.
Restructuring Solidarity: Update from the ‘Transformative Organising with Frontline Communities’ Training
From November 17th to 24th, Friends of the Earth Malta joined a group of 40 activists, advocates and organisers from around the world who gathered to attend a dynamic training on the practice of Transformative Organising, set in the idyllic mountainscapes of Lleida Catalunya, Spain.
Exploring Climate Emotions: Understanding and Naming Our Connection to the Environment
The EIB Climate Survey made the headlines earlier in November and it was quite a reality check (if anyone still needs one) with very worrying results showing that over 80% of Maltese fear they will be forced to move due to climate change while 99% recognise it is important for their country to adapt to these challenges. Climate anxiety is on the rise and many feel that not enough is being done. To address this rising trend Friends of the Earth Malta partnered up with environmental and mental health NGOs from Estonia, Germany and Denmark on the EU funded project CALM-EY: Coping with Climate Anxiety: Learning Methods for Mental Health for European Youth (2023-2025).
Updates from the CALM-EY project
The EIB Climate Survey made the headlines earlier in November and it was quite a reality check (if anyone still needs one) with very worrying results showing that over 80% of Maltese fear they will be forced to move due to climate change while 99% recognise it is important for their country to adapt to these challenges. Climate anxiety is on the rise and many feel that not enough is being done. To address this rising trend Friends of the Earth Malta partnered up with environmental and mental health NGOs from Estonia, Germany and Denmark on the EU funded project CALM-EY: Coping with Climate Anxiety: Learning Methods for Mental Health for European Youth (2023-2025).
Breakfast Workshop Brings Bus Instructors and Micromobility Users Together for Safer Roads
Last Thursday, we came together for a Turkish cooking session. We prepared our dishes, played games, and finally tasted the delicious food we made!
Where does Malta rank on Food Waste?
As an NGO, Friends of the Earth Malta is a pioneer for change relating to waste management and initiating the implementation of long-term action plans to tackle waste issues.
Renewable Energy Communities in Malta? ‘People Power Up’ Report launched by Friends of the Earth Malta
Friends of the Earth Malta launched a new report ‘People Power Up - Renewable Energy Communities in Malta’, focused on community energy. Renewable energy communities are community organisations in which households and families, but also SMEs and local authorities, can co-own and implement renewable energy projects.
SOS Project – Save our Shores: Stop Wealthy Polluters
Cruise liners, superyachts, and other large ships are causing serious environmental, social and health problems in the Mediterranean Sea. These vessels often burn heavy fuel oil (HFO) and other highly polluting fuels, causing air pollution, contributing to the climate crisis, and affecting the health of local communities. The SOS Project tackles these environmental and social impacts of Malta’s booming maritime industry.
Restructuring Solidarity: Update from the ‘Transformative Organising with Frontline Communities’ Training
From November 17th to 24th, Friends of the Earth Malta joined a group of 40 activists, advocates and organisers from around the world who gathered to attend a dynamic training on the practice of Transformative Organising, set in the idyllic mountainscapes of Lleida Catalunya, Spain.
What are the challenges of micromobility?
What are the challenges that micromobility users face? To learn more about micromobility visit www.foemalta.org/projects/micromobi