Malta

The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 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. Following feedback from an EU-wide assessment of draft NECP submissions, EU members are required to submit updated final NECPs for the period 2021-2030. 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, exploring enhanced biofuel usage and deploying an offshore renewable energy farms. The plan aims for a 25% renewable energy share by 2030.

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to 2030 is Malta’s framework for biodiversity conservation, aligning with global agreements like the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. It emphasises mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, addressing pressures such as development, invasive species, and climate change—a key driver of biodiversity loss. The plan integrates with climate-related initiatives, including the UNFCCC, the European Green Deal, and national climate strategies, recognising the interdependence of biodiversity and climate crises. It promotes nature-based solutions (e.g., blue-green infrastructure) for climate adaptation, mitigation, and ecosystem restoration, while fostering synergies with sustainable development, waste, and air quality policies.
Specific climate-linked actions include soil biodiversity protection (Action 2.6) to support climate resilience, ecosystem restoration (Target 3) for carbon sequestration, and nature-based solutions (Target 7) to mitigate urban climate risks. The NBSAP adopts principles like the "polluter pays" and "precautionary" approaches, ensuring climate considerations are embedded in decision-making. By addressing direct and indirect biodiversity drivers, Malta aims to reverse ecosystem decline while contributing to global climate goals, underscoring the critical role of biodiversity in achieving climate resilience and sustainability.

The climate-related provisions in this Strategy and Action Plan are: -
Action 2.2: By 2027, climate-proof action plans will be established, with tailored measures required to maintain or improve the conservation status of the habitats and species
Action 2.6: A comprehensive national policy framework is developed to protect and enhance soil and its biodiversity, and to improve monitoring, thus contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Target 3: By 2030, degraded ecosystems, in particular those with potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation, will be under restoration or rehabilitation to ensure their integrity, structure, function, and connectivity.
Action 3.3: A comprehensive national policy framework on forestation in line with the EU Forest Strategy, including the National Trees and Woodland Strategy and Action Plan and related guidelines, are set up and implemented to achieve ecologically-sensitive forestation, habitat connectivity, climate change mitigation and adaptation, conservation of genetic resources, ecosystem restoration and the implementation of an integrated approach on fire management, control and prevention.

The vision aims to ensure that social cohesion, the protection of the environment, and economic growth move forward in a coherent and mutually beneficial way. It focuses on identifying existing gaps and provides guidelines and targets to effectively address emerging challenges and threats.

The National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Malta presents the framework of actions for the development of alternative fuels in the transport sector in Malta and the required infrastructure in application of Directive 2014/94/EU of 22 October 2014.

The Guarantees of Origin of Electricity from High-Efficiency Cogeneration and of Energy from Renewable Energy Sources Regulations establish a certification system for electricity generated from high-efficiency cogeneration and renewable energy sources. These regulations provide a framework for verifying and tracking the origin of such electricity, ensuring it meets specific environmental and efficiency standards. They aim to enhance transparency and encourage the adoption of sustainable energy practices.

The Malta Biofuels, Bioliquids, and Biomass Fuels (Sustainability Criteria) Regulations establish standards for ensuring that biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuels meet specific sustainability criteria. The regulations set out requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring that the production of these fuels does not lead to negative environmental impacts. They aim to promote the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly bioenergy sources.

These regulations transpose articles 2 to 18 and 20 to 28 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. Through the introduction of measures like the application of support schemes, this regulations ensures the achievement of Malta’s contribution towards a share of at least thirty-two per cent (32%) of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy in 2030, in line with the trajectory established in accordance with Articles 3 to 5 and 9 to 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 for the national contribution to the binding overall Union as reported in Malta’s National Energy and Climate Plan.

This regulation transposes Directive 2008/101/EC amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Malta Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2017, establish the legal framework for assessing the environmental impacts of proposed projects in Malta. These regulations require that significant projects undergo an EIA process to evaluate their potential effects on the environment, including biodiversity, water, air quality, and climate. The regulations ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the planning and decision-making process, with public participation and consultation as key components

Malta National Inventory Report (NIR). 2025

Malta Biennial Transparency Report. BTR1

Malta National Inventory Report (NIR). 2024 (Update)

Malta's National Inventory Report submitted in 2023

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)