The Chief Executive of the recently launched Climate Action Authority (CAA) has told The Malta Independent on Sunday that she hopes for the public to view the new authority as a "driving force for sustainable transformation, supported by a clear, and impactful vision."
"I honestly believe that setting up this authority was a bold move towards a stronger structure to enhance efforts in the remit of climate action," Ing. Abigail Cutajar said.
As both the inaugural CEO of the Climate Action Authority and a professional in the same field, Cutajar plans to lead the CAA "through a collaborative approach that integrates scientific expertise, stakeholder engagement, and innovative solutions."
"The main reason behind the CAA set-up was the importance to consolidate efforts together across government and beyond to truly assess the potential to action on climate," Cutajar said.
According to the CEO, the authority has four main strategies to address climate change; mitigation, i.e., reducing greenhouse gas emissions; adapting practices and systems to minimize damage from climate impacts, e.g., building resilient infrastructure, developing drought-resistant crops; integrated policy development that incentivizes and enables the public and private sectors to act on climate solutions; and collaboration between relevant stakeholders to share best practices, engage in international climate agreements, and foster partnerships to reach climate goals.
Additionally, one of the key areas under the Climate Action Authority's technical arm is "assessing the greenhouse gas inventory and reporting." Cutajar labelled this to be "crucial" in taking stock of where Malta stands in this sector and in terms of its contribution in emissions reductions, year on year.
Cutajar told this newsroom that the CAA will work in close communication with all entities associated to climate, such as, but not limited to, the ERA, Ambjent Malta, Project Green, Transport Malta, and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
She described that the CAA will work alongside all existing environmental entities and that collectively, "it is crucial to ensure a unified approach to environmental and climate goals."
"While ERA focuses on regulation and enforcement of environmental standards, Ambjent Malta handles conservation, and Project Green leads sustainable development projects within open spaces, the CAA coordinates overarching climate strategies," Cutajar said. "Together, we aim to align initiatives, avoid duplication, and amplify the impact of our collective efforts."
The Climate Action Authority (CAA) was established and launched just over three months ago, on October 7, 2024, and is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the measures and regulations related to climate change across the Maltese islands, through direct consultation with other Ministries. The CAA is the first such authority in the European continent.
The Climate Action Authority was set up five years after the Maltese Parliament declared a climate emergency.
While some sceptics may argue that Malta's carbon footprint has minimal effect in the grander global scene, Cutajar believes that the country has "huge" potential to lead by example in spite of its limited size.
"As the first authority of its kind in Europe, Malta has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that bold, innovative, and sustainable action can make a difference, regardless of scale," Cutajar noted.
"By embracing our role as a climate leader, we can inspire larger nations to follow suit," she stated, "Immediate, collective action can mitigate impacts, safeguard future generations, and allow for some degree of recovery over time."
Many of the hottest periods in Maltese history have been officially recorded in just the last few years. On this point, Cutajar observed that past emissions have "already locked in" some of the impacts of climate change, e.g., the phenomenon of extreme weather being experienced by the whole world.
However, she remarked that despite this stormy progression, "there is still time to act decisively to mitigate further damage and adapt to the changes we are experiencing especially Malta as a small island state. It is also crucial for Malta to put forward subjects such as temperature and sea level rise on its agenda."
"We can still prevent the worst-case scenarios and stabilize the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring natural systems through the strengthening of ecosystems," she commented, "While the damage already done underscores the urgency of the climate crisis, it should serve as motivation rather than a resignation."
As a means to better guarantee the achievement of climate goals, the CAA was announced as an authority with administrative powers rather than as another government entity and just another climate action watchdog. This authority has the power to issue climate-related regulations and impose sanctions on any persons or entities in clear breach of local legislation related to its cause.
Such penalties can be as strict as four years imprisonment and up to €50,000 per day that a concerned offence continues to clearly breach local legislation. In total, imposed fines cannot exceed a maximum limit of €1,000,000.
During the authority's launch, it was stressed that the CAA shall function through a holistic approach. This allows it to coordinate and oversee climate action in Malta, across any and all sectors - including action with other government entities and ministries.
In its first functional weeks, the authority has already transposed some EU Directives into local legislation to keep Malta in line with evolving environmental standards. "Such sectors include already existing sectors that were previously regulated including Aviation and Stationary Installations such as the Power Station and furthermore extending such regulations to the Maritime and Fuel use in Buildings and Road Transport," Cutajar said.
When asked whether the Authority will address any future greenwashing campaigns in the future, in the event that any pop up, Cutajar remarked that the CAA "will not support any form of marketing that is not authentic and that is indeed not delivering the right message."
With climate change being such a broad subject and naturally interconnected to other environmental issues, this newsroom asked Cutajar whether the Climate Action Authority will intervene in any way to address the adverse impacts being felt on local ecosystems and biodiversity, and similarly, on strains to local infrastructure.
Acknowledging that "strategic intervention" is required to address these challenges, Cutajar said that "to ensure sustainable development while preserving environmental integrity, the CAA seeks to promote smart growth strategies that prioritize resource-efficient urban designs."
"The CAA will work closely with planning and infrastructure authorities to ensure that environmental and climate considerations are embedded in land-use policies, urban planning, and development projects," she said.
Cutajar added that the authority shall work towards ensuring the preservation of local ecosystems and biodiversity by engaging with the relevant authorities to streamline their strategies with the country's climate and environmental goals.
"This collaborative approach ensures a balance between development needs and ecological preservation," Cutajar stated.
At present, the authority is in the process of capacity building "to strengthen its resources for effective action." Its top priorities in this regard lie in public awareness, stakeholder management, and engagement - particularly focusing on identifying potential gaps within the public sector.