Towards a 2050 national strategy for Malta’s environment

Abstract

Malta’s environmental governance framework has evolved significantly over the past decades. A general overview of the trajectory of Malta’s environmental governance since its independence is given by Camilleri (2025). A major milestone was the publication of the National Environment Policy (NEP) in 2012 (MTCE, 2012). The NEP represented the first attempt locally to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to environmental protection within the broader context of sustainable development. It articulated thematic objectives aimed at greening the economy, safeguarding environmental health, and promoting efficient resource use, while also addressing critical issues such as biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and waste management (MTCE, 2012). Despite its importance, the NEP’s approach was largely incremental, focusing on improvements within existing institutional and regulatory structures rather than driving systemic transformation (MTCE, 2012). [extract]