Malta

Malta ranks 25th in the CCPI, up nine spots and a medium performer. The country receives medium ratings in GHG Emissions, Energy Use, and Climate Policy, and low in Renewable Energy.

Since 2015, Malta has had a Climate Action Act that makes climate protection legally binding. However, the CCPI country experts criticise the lack of concrete efforts to reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions, as well as poor climate policy implementation. In 2024, the Climate Action Authority was officially established as Malta’s first authority to coordinate and oversee climate change policies.

Latest budget provides energy subsidies for citizens, solar shows some progress but wind energy development remains stagnant

The 2025 budget continued energy subsidies to support citizens. These subsidies are expected to be retained in the 2026 budget. The experts agree on the importance of protecting citizens from fuel poverty, but they criticise that energy subsidies, in effect, subsidise high energy consumption and waste.

Malta’s energy consumption still has a low renewable energy share. While the experts note some progress in solar energy use, they denounce offshore wind energy as having not moved beyond the planning stage. Wind energy has been discussed in Malta since the late 1990s, but the discussion has yet to result in any installation. Despite this, in October 2024, the National Policy for the Deployment of Offshore Renewable Energy was launched. In December 2024, the tender process for Malta’s first offshore floating wind farm began. While the domestic production of components needed for this project is ongoing, it remains unclear when the wind farm will be commissioned.

Heavily dependent on fossil fuels and automobiles despite free public transportation

Malta heavily depends on fossil fuels, and the experts note there is little to no political will for actual phase-out.

The experts also note that Malta’s transport sector is lagging, with automobiles still favoured over other modes of transport. However, they point out a substantial increase in the number of electric vehicles, owing to popular subsidies supporting their use. While public transport in Malta has been free since October 2022, at least for citizens holding a tallinja card, the experts note that automobile use has not decreased and are critical of how bicycle lanes are not being built at the necessary scale.

Overall, the experts criticise the insufficient ambition and implementation of climate policy in Malta. Fossil fuels should be phased out as soon as possible and public money should be invested in renewables, energy efficiency technology, and community energy. There is urgent need to reduce automobile dependence and private vehicles’ fuel consumption, and to create a shift to more sustainable modes of transport.

Key Outcomes

CCPI Experts

National experts that contributed to the policy evaluation of this year’s CCPI chose to remain anonymous.