Transportation is Malta’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter

Transportation made up 72% of Malta’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, the Climate Action Authority (CAA) has revealed.

This statistic includes emmissions from transport in Malta as well as vehicles such as airplanes and ships which are registered as Maltese but are travelling outside of the country. 

On average, transportation made up 14% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions for that year, it said. The EU emits more in other sectors, however. Agriculture made up 35% of EU greenhouse gas emissions, while in Malta it only made up 14%. Furthermore, manufacturing made up 21% of EU emissions, in comparison to 1% in Malta.

Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that retain heat within the atmosphere, strengthening the natural greenhouse effect and leading to an increase in global temperatures. These are typically carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide.

The CAA said that climate change is among the most significant global challenges, impacting people, economies, and ecosystems worldwide. Its effects are already evident in extreme heat, flooding, droughts, storms, and rising sea levels. Scientific evidence indicates that climate change is speeding up, making urgent global action increasingly necessary, it said.

Moreover, the CAA said that despite the global growth of renewable energy and alternative fuels, greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. A large share of these emissions originates from a handful of major economies, including China, the United States, India, Russia, and Indonesia.

That said, by 2024, greenhouse gas emissions in the EU had fallen by about 37% compared to 1990 levels. The CAA said that this suggests that, although global emissions continue to rise, Europe is making progress in the right direction, with countries such as Malta contributing to the broader effort to cut emissions and shift toward a cleaner economy.

According to the CAA, Malta’s emissions per capita remain among the lowest in the EU. Furthermore, according to its National Energy and Climate Plan, Malta aims to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2030.

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