SBE16 Malta : Europe and the Mediterranean towards a sustainable built environment

Abstract

Coming from a small island can confer certain advantages. Malta's compact geography allows it to concentrate some of the key issues that Europe as a whole is facing today. On a small island, sustainability isn't an abstract question. It's a very real issue for everyone involved. This means that an idea like the circular economy is an ideal fit for a compact economy like Malta's. A more circular economic model, where re-use and recycling become our first instinct, will allow Europe to use its resources more wisely. It's not just an environmental necessity – it's also an economic opportunity that we can't afford to miss. This is why the European Commission is proposing that Europe begins to rethink its economy, and ensure that it is suited to the challenges of the future. [excerpt from Foreword]