Maltese demonstrators in Valletta joined millions of activists around the world during the Global Climate Strike.

Protesting Malta’s continued use of fossil fuels and urging the state to invest in renewable energy whilst also supporting public and active commuters, such as pedestrians and people on bicycles, rather than further incentivising car use, the crowd, including young and old, held up cheeky placards.

“I want a hot date, not a hot planet,” read one sign. 

“End fossil finance – tomorrow is too late,” read others.

“In November of 2019, the government declared a climate emergency, yet action on the crisis has been near absent. To add insult to injury, just a few weeks ago, the Finance Ministry approved an exploration licence for oil drilling in our waters,” the group , including activists from Extinction Rebellion and Moviment Graffitti, said.

“About half of the carbon emissions of Malta comes from road transport, yet the government continues to pursue car-centric infrastructure projects, entrenching the use of an energy intensive mode of transport.”