Malta ‘Punching Far Above Our Weight,’ Abela Tells Global Leaders At COP28
Addressing the COP28 summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Robert Abela urged global leaders to unite against the imminent threat of climate change.
Saying the island just faced one of the toughest summers ever, he noted that just because the island was so small “does not mean we should do less”.
Reiterating Malta’s goal of being climate neutral by 2050, he said the island was “punching far above our weight” and emphasised the “immense offshore potential” the island could offer in the environmental sector.
He called on global leaders to “unite to end this existential threat”.
Despite being one of the smallest countries, Abela expressed Malta’s commitment to exceeding climate goals, aiming for a 55% reduction in pollution by 2030 compared to 1990.
He noted Malta’s achievements in reducing air pollution and increasing renewable energy but stressed the need for more ambitious projects, including significant potential off the Maltese coast.
Abela also outlined Malta’s financial contributions to climate-related initiatives and called for global collaboration to combat rising sea levels.
During the summit, leaders agreed on a billion-dollar fund for global climate solutions, addressing food production’s impact on climate change and supporting nations most affected by its consequences.
Abela highlighted Malta’s efforts in environmental shifts and announced a research project to create an index identifying islands most affected by climate change.
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