ALM UNDP

Summary:

The Maltese islands are expected to experience a decrease in the natural water resources due to climate change. Adaptation measures are necessary to alleviate stress on the natural water resources and to mitigate flood water damage. A concerted effort is necessary to reduce water demand by promoting water efficient devices, use of alternative water sources for activities that can be satisfied by non-potable supplies and careful aquifer monitoring, coupled with carefully drafted conservation policy.

For Malta, climatic changes will affect the environment and, consequently, socioeconomic activities. Expected impacts include:

• deterioration of potable water supplies and quality;
• more frequent extreme weather events;
• changes in soil erosion and an accentuated desertification process;
• threats to public health;
• changes in sea water mass characteristics and effects on fish stocks;
• sea level rise, leading to coastal erosion and inundation;
• reduced biodiversity;
• moderate to moderately high economic vulnerability.

According to the First National Communication of Malta to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Malta is committed to honouring obligations in respect of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and, as an EU member state, will be obliged to develop the capacity for reporting, monitoring and verifying greenhouse gas emissions.

Malta’s National Action Plan consists of a set of adaptation and mitigation measures that takes in to consideration their particular environmental vulnerabilities. The National Action Plan recognises that the challenge of climate change must be shared equitably by all sectors and needs to be faced by adopting clear criteria that include:

• a commitment in favour of sustainable development;
• a disposition to maximise economic efficiency by implementing cost-effective measures;
• a broad range of policies and measures tailored specifically to all relevant sectors with the intention of achieving emission reductions across all economic sectors;
• a recognition of the specific arrangements and special requirements that pertain to a small island state;
• generating an impetus for early action by adopting a phased approach that allows for immediate actions while planning for longer term provisions;
• a vigorous and appropriate pursuit of common and coordinated policies and measures implemented at EU and wider international levels.

Source: The First National Communication of Malta to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2004.