PRESS RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE A review of Malta’s climate action using the ClimateScanner framework

The Auditor General, Mr Charles Deguara, presented the Report highlighted in the caption to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Anġlu Farrugia, underscoring the commitment of the National Audit Office (NAO) to climate action accountability. Hence, this Office is contributing to the ClimateScanner initiative, an international rapid assessment tool developed under the auspices of the International Organisation of State Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) by the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts. Tailored for Supreme Audit Institutions, ClimateScanner enables an independent evaluation of climate change governance, public policies, and finance against the respective pre-determined universal criteria.

This Review, which presents the overall situation as of September 2025, shows that Malta has made significant strides in climate action. Such assessment reaffirmed the solid foundation for climate governance, anchored by the 2024 Climate Action Act. The regulatory framework is also supported by high-level leadership, including the recently established Climate Action Authority, the National Climate Action Council and the Ministerial Climate Action Coordinators. Science-driven policymaking is paired with active stakeholder engagement and transparent communication. On the other hand, while monitoring systems are in place, the usability of monitoring data for policymaking remains a challenge.

Malta's climate strategies are aligned with EU and international commitments, including actions to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Sectoral plans for water and flood risk management stood out, featuring well-structured climate change adaptation measures, strong stakeholder engagement, and support from both local and EU-funded initiatives. However, this climate action Review has also identified the need for enhancing data quality and making better use of performance metrics, particularly in view of the ongoing development of a more detailed National Adaptation Plan.

Notwithstanding its geographical specificities and associated challenges, Malta plays an active role in international climate finance, supporting multilateral initiatives including Small Island Developing States (SIDSs). This Review observed growing momentum in private climate finance mobilisation, driven by instruments such as climate-proofing schemes, grants, green bonds, and climate action loans. Efforts to enhance tracking and reporting are progressing, including systems to classify climate-related revenue and expenditure.

The NAO encourages the Climate Action Authority to make optimal use of the ClimateScanner's insights across the areas of Governance, Public Policies, and Finance, for sustaining climate action. By acting on this Review's outcomes, the Government can strengthen climate policy, improve implementation tracking, and mobilise sufficient public and private financing for building a more climate-resilient society.

The Report can be accessed by visiting our website www.nao.gov.mt or its Facebook page www.facebook.com/NAOMalta.