VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is on track to emit more greenhouse gases in 2030 than it did in 2005, making it the only EU member state projected to see an overall increase, according to the European Commission’s 2025 Climate Action Progress Report.
The report estimates Malta’s emissions will rise by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030, and could exceed 40% if no new policies are adopted. This contrasts sharply with the country’s EU-mandated target to cut emissions by 19% under the Effort Sharing Regulation, which governs sectors including transport, buildings, agriculture, small industry, and waste.
Malta is forecast to miss its target by 49 percentage points—the largest shortfall in the bloc.
Authorities noted that Malta’s initial goal of a 36% reduction was eased to 19% after negotiations with the European Commission. The Climate Action Authority highlighted progress in efficiency, stating that emissions per capita have fallen 44% since 2005, outperforming an EU average decline of 34%. Emissions relative to GDP have dropped 81.6%, compared with 61.9% across the EU.
“Malta aims to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, driven largely by a planned 77% reduction from power generation,” the authority said, while acknowledging persistent challenges in transport and buildings.
EU emissions overall are 20% below 2005 levels, with a 40% reduction targeted by 2030. The report also found Malta implemented the fewest climate policies of any EU state, though it cautioned that policy count does not necessarily reflect ambition.
Despite lagging performance, Malta and Estonia were the only countries to identify all projects under the EU’s Just Transition Fund.
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(ITALPRESS).
