PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND PUBLIC CLEANLINESS ‘An ambitious Climate Law taking into account the realities of Island Member States’ - Malta’s request at the Environment Council

Malta has reaffirmed its commitment to take bold steps in favour of climate action while urging the European Union to prioritise the realities of Island Member States in the post-2030 climate framework.

Speaking at the Council meeting of Environment Ministers in Brussels, Minister Miriam Dalli welcomed progress on the proposal to set an EU-wide target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. She emphasised that such an ambitious decision must be endorsed by the EU Heads of State and Government, since it has wide economic and social implications.

Minister Dalli called for proper recognition and support for Island Member States. She highlighted that specific challenges faced by island Member States, such as Malta, need to be entrenched in the European Climate Law.  She called for Member State-level impact assessments to be included in the upcoming Climate Law.

During her intervention, Minister Dalli also called for a fairer approach that prioritises cost-efficiency and solidarity.

“Malta remains a committed partner in Europe's climate efforts. We must move forward together, with fairness, solidarity, and recognition of the unique challenges each Member State faces," the Minister said.

On climate finance, Minister Miriam Dalli underlined the importance of equitable access, noting that smaller states often encounter structural hurdles in securing EU and private investments due to the limited scale of their projects. Ensuring all Member States can access the necessary resources for the green transition, she urged, is vital to reaching the 2040 target.

Environment Ministers also reached agreement on an EU Statement of Intent, setting out the Union's progress and forward-looking pathway in the lead-up to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. This statement underscores the EU's continued commitment to climate action and highlights the importance of its collective ambition in driving global momentum.