PRESS RELEASE BY THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE Performance Audit: Climate Change Adaptation – Evaluating Malta’s efforts relating to flooding and sea level rise

The Auditor General, Mr Charles Deguara, presented the performance audit highlighted in the caption to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr Anġlu Farrugia. This performance audit focused on adaptation to climate change, particularly efforts to strengthen Malta’s resilience to flooding incidents as well as to slow-onset events like sea level rise. These areas were mainly selected as case studies in view of their potential socio-economic and environmental impacts that are, in part, attributable to the geographical specificities.

The Government’s commitment to better manage climate change matters is in part evidenced through the recently enacted Climate Action Act and the setting up of the Climate Action Authority, which together are seen as a step in the right direction. The strengthening of the Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) institutional and operational framework also entailed Government Entities’ involvement in various projects such as CARDIMED and MedSeaRise. The former is mainly concerned with the facilitation and harmonisation of data collection and assessment processes. The latter sought to improve risk assessments by refining methodologies and quantifying Mediterranean Sea level variation trends. 

The undertaking of a Maltese-economy-wide climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) is seen as an important element in addressing climate change issues. This assessment commenced in 2021 following a call for tenders. Despite the delays experienced due to technical complexities, this study has now been concluded and was referred to the Government in early 2025. This climate VRA shall serve as an important input in the formulation of future adaptation policies and projects.

Despite these developments, the main CCA-related strategies and plans, namely the Malta Low Carbon Development Strategy and the National Energy and Climate Plan, did not always specify ownership for the implementation of the relative adaptation measures, nor included clear timeframes and Key Performance Indicators to facilitate more systematic monitoring. The infrastructural and greening projects, which may provide some adaptation-related benefits, were generally not supported by comprehensive climate-proofing assessments that fully consider all anticipated climate change hazards throughout the projects’ life cycle. On the other hand, measures emanating from the second Flood Risk Management Plan for the Malta River Basin District were systematically prioritised and monitored by the responsible Entities.

Although climate action funding has been increasing over recent years, the Government has not yet quantified the cost of adapting to climate change. While such a figure would be based on projections and other assumed scenarios, it would facilitate investment planning. Even though the impact of flooding events was generally contained over the last decades, slow-onset events like sea level rise may require greater investment and stakeholder involvement, including from the private sector.

There is no doubt that adapting to climate change is technically complex, financially challenging and requires a whole-of-government approach. Similarly to this performance audit’s findings and conclusions, recent assessments by the European Commission on Malta’s progress in adapting to Climate Change noted aspects which required improvement. While acknowledging the developments in this field, the NAO encourages Governmental Entities to duly consider all proposed recommendations. These are ultimately intended to strengthen the governance of climate change adaptation matters, particularly in terms of having clear ownership of initiatives, undertaking timely actions, as well as enhancing cooperation and coordination among key players. 

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