Watch: Malta Sets Up A New Climate Action Authority
Malta has set up a new authority to draft climate-related legislation, policies and strategies, and to set up projects and schemes that support climate action.
One of the Climate Action Authority’s main tasks will be ensuring Malta reaches its European Green Deal targets of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The authority will be led by CEO Abigail Cutajar and a board chaired by Mario Azzopardi.
The board also consists of Jonathan Spiteri, Marija Sara Vella Gafa, Paul Fenech, Ruben Paul Borg and Sean Schembri, with Marika Sammut Dimech serving as board secretary.
A separate scientific council has also been set up to serve as an advisory body to the new authority. It is chaired by Prof. Simone Borg, Malta’s ambassador for climate action, and includes marine biologist Alan Deidun, meteorological expert Charles Galdies, MCESD chairperson David Xuereb, finance expert Dina Quiraishi, engineer Joseph Restall, sociologist Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino, and economist Stefano Moncada, with Maria Magri as council secretary.
“Doing nothing is not an option,” Prime Minister Robert Abela said.
“That’s why we are here to push forward policies that protect the future while also improving our lives today.”
“Environmental policy must be fairer because we are aware of the realities affecting everyone, including the Mediterranean. Today, we are taking this fundamental step with the conviction that tomorrow must be better.”
Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that nine Mediterranean EU countries, including Malta, recently reached an agreement to make the Mediterranean a hub of clean energy.
“This is the vision, this is the ambition, and this is why we have embarked on this path for Malta and the Maltese to be pioneers in realising that vision, and this Authority, which is the first of its kind in Europe, is another step towards this vision.”