Malta

To benefit from the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility set up by the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis, Member States submit their recovery and resilience plans to the European Commission. Each plan sets out the reforms and investments to be implemented by end-2026 and Member States can receive financing up to a previously agreed allocation. Each plan should effectively address challenges identified in the European Semester, particularly the country-specific recommendations of 2019 and 2020 adopted by the Council. It should also advance the green and digital transitions and make Member States’ economies and societies more resilient. The Commission validates the plan after which it effectively enters in force and EU subsidies can start flowing towards the member state. Malta is expected to receive circa €316 million in grants under the Facility. 54% of the plan’s total allocation are assessed to be directed toward reforms and investments support climate objectives. Notable investments:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;Energy-efficiency renovations and greening of private and public buildings: including hospitals and schools – financing deep retrofitting and renewable energy installations. €60 million</li>
<li>Access to free public transport: granting access to free public transport to selected cohorts of the population to address congestion and make transport more sustainable.</li>
<li>&nbsp;A new ferry-landing place at St Paul’s Bay/Buġibba: shifting transport from road to sea and reducing emissions from the transport sector. €16 million</li>
</ul>

The National Energy and Climate (ENCP) Plan is a ten-year integrated document <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/national-energy-climate-plans_en" target="_self">mandated by the European Union</a> to each of its member states in order for the EU to meet its overall greenhouse gases emissions targets. The Energy and Climate Plan addresses all five dimensions of the EU Energy Union: decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, internal energy markets and research, innovation and competitiveness. Malta’s strategy under the Decarbonisation dimension is to ensure a transition to a low-carbon economy by a reduction of GHG emissions and an increase in renewable energy sources. In terms of Energy Security, Malta will follow its commitment to achieve a greater security of supply through the diversification of energy sources and suppliers. To ensure Malta's energy integration, the plan establishes policies and measures to increase the flexibility of the energy system. Malta will boost research, innovation and competitiveness : a national R&amp;I strategy is expected to be finalised by 2020.

The National Transport Strategy 2050 is a holistic document designed to provide Malta with a long-term vision for a sustainable transport system. The document was prepared by the Authority for Transport in Malta, which was established in 2010 following the implementation of the Authority for Transport in Malta Act of 2009. It notably promotes energy efficiency, alternative fuel sources and active modes to reduce carbon emissions. Strategic goals, directions and indicators are laid out in the Strategy. The document creates the framework for the development of Transport Master Plans, which in turn provide planning framework for implementing specific measures. The current Transport Master Plan sets a vision to 2035 and include details of the financing schemes necessary to achieve targets set out in the Strategy.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The National Strategy for the introduction of electric mobility in Malta and the island of Gozo was introduced in July 2012 by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs to enable the two islands to enjoy the multiple benefits stemming from a lower carbon-intensive carbon sector. One such benefit is the potential for carbon emissions reductions. A number of drivetrains are considered and include battery electric, fuel cell electric and hybrid technologies. The transport modes considered for electric mobility are bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, cars, vans, trucks and buses. &nbsp; &nbsp;The Strategy formulates a number of policy recommendations to be implemented by relevant authorities. It strengthens the case for using renewable energy in transport, suggests legal and economic discriminations to speed up the introduction of electric vehicles and outlines the indicative target of 5 000 electric vehicles by 2020. In November 2013, the <a href="http://www.transport.gov.mt/admin/uploads/media-library/files/The%20Malta%20National%20Electromobility%20Action%20Plan.pdf">Malta National Electromobility Action Plan</a> was published by the Malta National Electromobility Platform to follow up on the Strategy's implementation. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The National Strategy for Climate Change and Adaptation was published in May 2012 by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs. It sets out the government's vision on the strategic climate impacts and vulnerability of the water, agriculture, human health and tourism sectors. The document subsequently outlines sectoral action plans to develop Malta's adaptation effort in conjunction with its mitigation targets. The document strengthens the Malta Resouces Authority (MRA) administrative capabilities and missions. It sets up the Education and Communications Unit within the Climate Change Division of the MRA. The document also highlights the need to increase energy efficiency and conservation in the building sector. It establishes climate change adaptation, including adverse effects on water cycles and temperature intensity, at the core of agriculture policies forward.

The Climate Action Act was published in July 2015 to recognise the duty for the Maltese State to tackle climate change and its adverse effects. Mitigation efforts include the limitation of anthropogenic greenhouse gases emissions and the protection and enhancement of greenhouse gases sinks and reservoirs. Climate policies must be designed to foster adaptation efforts in parallel. The Act lists a number of obligations for the State, including the periodical publication of national inventories on the country's anthropogenic emissions, the regular update of climate policies, the promotion of adequate technologies sustainable land use management, the enhancement of research cooperation and education. The Act also exonerates the Climate Action Fund from financial obligations under the Income Tax Act. In May 2017, the government published the <a href="https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/MSDEC/Documents/MSDEC%20LCDS%20Vision.PDF" target="_self">Low Carbon Development Strategy</a> to set out its vision on how to transform Malta into a low-carbon, climate resilient country by 2050 while fostering social and economic development. It links mitigation and adaptation policies together. The Strategy aims at 1) ensuring coherence and synergies between other documents at sector level, 2) effectively translate into national law international and EU commitments, 3) increase stakeholders's participation to data collection at all levels, 4) mobilise tools to cost-effectively drive climate-related investments and low-carbon economic developments, and 5) develop adequate research and expertise on climate action. The areas targeted to foster low-carbon efforts include energy, transport, waste, agriculture, water, enterprise, tourism, information and communica on technologies and infrastructure (planning and monitoring of existence infrastructure). Certain provisions of the Act, including those related to the development of national mitigation and adaptation strategies and those related to parliamentary oversight were amended in February 2020 by Act XXXVI of 2020.

The Enemalta (Transfer of Assets, Rights, Liabilities and Obligations) Act of 2014 sets the legal and regulatory rules concerning Enemalta, the main provider of electricity generation and distribution services in the Maltese Islands. It formally amends the <a href="http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=12375&l=1" target="_self">feed-in tariffs scheme regulations</a> of July 1st, 2013, that aim at promoting and support the generation of electricity from photovoltaic installations. The Feed-in Tariffs scheme was amended a second time in 2015 within the <a href="http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=27004&l=1" target="_self">Regulator for Energy and Water Services Act, 2015</a> and form the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme (Electricity Generated from Solar Photovoltaic Installations) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2015.

The Act No. VI of 2009 amending the Motor Vehicles Registration Tax Act (Cap.368) provides for the registration and licensing of motor vehicles in Malta. The amendment establishes taxation schemes to favour electric mobility. It sets in article 6(1) a 0 % tax rate for battery driven passenger and freight vehicles, a 0 % rate for new electric hybrid buses and 2 % for used hybrid buses, and a 16.5 % rate for freight hybrid vehicles. The registration tax is also decreasing progressively with levels of CO2 emissions. Circulation fee for motorcycles and quads uses the same logic. 
 
The Act was revised again on July 16th, 2010, to become the <a href="http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=21269&l=1">Motor Vehicles Registration and Licensing Act and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2010</a>.

Malta. 2024 National Inventory Document (NID) Update

Malta. Biennial Reports (BR). BR 5., Biennial Report from Malta in 2023

Malta. National Communication (NC). NC 8., National Communication from Malta in 2023

Malta. 2022 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Malta in 2022

Malta. 2021 National Inventory Report (NIR), National Inventory Report from Malta in 2021

Reduce landfilling of MSW to 10% by 2035.

Increase recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) to 65% by 2035

above 15% electricity interconnectivity by 2030

achieve equivalent to 0.24% of annual final energy consumption averaged over the most recent three-year period prior to 1 January 2019 from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2030

0.07 toe/euro energy efficiency contribution by 2030 compared to 2005 levels

increase the share of renewable heating and cooling by an indicative 1.1 percentage points annually between 2020 and 2030

10% renewable energy share in gross final consumption of energy by 2020

target above 15% level of electricity interconnectivity by 2030

0.07 toe/€ energy intensity in 2030 (compared to 2005 levels)

11.5% share of Renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in 2030

40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels)

19% reduction in GHG emissions reduction target (compare to 2005 levels)

provide 5 million m3 /year by 2015; 10 million m3 /year from 2016 to 2020; 15 million m3 /year from 2021 to 2030 as a replacement of groundwater used for agriculture, commercial, and industrial need

replace groundwater demand by 2 million m3 /year by 2020; 3 million m3 /year from 2021 to 2030.

To ensure an energy intensity of 0.07toe/€2005 in 2030.&nbsp;

To reduce GHG emissions by 19% compared to 2005.

To increase by 14% the share of RES in the transport sector.

To increase by 11.5% the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in 2030.

2 million m3/yr water met by reuse by 2020, then 3 million m3/yr between 2021-2030

Emit no more than 8 kilotonnes NOX, 9 kilotonnes SO2, 3 kilotonnes NH3, 12 kilotonnes VOC by 2010

15% energy savings (144,876toe), then 22% (235,254toe) by 2014, 2020

5% increase in non-ETS sector emissions by 2020 compared with a 2005 baseline

50% green public procurement by EU GPP criteria by 2015

10% renewables in final energy consumption by 2020

33,000MWh produced annually by agricultural waste

10% transport energy from renewables by 2020

10% renewables in transport energy consumption by 2020

532 ktCO2e non-ETS GHG emissions from transport by 2015, then 525 ktCO2e by 2030

99.9% conventionally fuelled cars by 2015, then 50% by 2030, then 0% by 2050

Malta

Documents

Targets (37)