Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri addressed the “Gozo Towards Climate Neutrality” conference, during which an agreement was signed between the Gozo Regional Development Authority and the Climate Action Authority to initiate the implementation of the vision for Gozo to become Malta’s first climate-neutral region.

The Minister stated that, “the plan published today is a significant step towards realising our vision of making Gozo Malta’s first climate-neutral region. The agreement signed between the GRDA and the Climate Action Authority will strengthen collaboration between the two entities and help us transition from planning to implementation, through concrete actions that enhance sustainability, resilience, and the quality of life in Gozo.”

He further explained that the plan helps identify areas with the greatest potential for emission reductions, the necessary investment, and the steps that can realistically be taken.

He maintained that this ambition forms part of the broader vision of the Regional Development Strategy for Gozo 2023-2033, which envisages development that combines economic progress with environmental sustainability, resilience, and an improved quality of life.

Minister Camilleri noted that Gozo has already embarked on this transition through initiatives such as an all-electric public transport fleet, investment in renewable energy and cleaner mobility, environmental rehabilitation projects, and investment in water resilience.

He highlighted that, alongside emissions reduction, climate change adaptation must be a priority, entailing greater protection of water resources, more resilient infrastructure, and the safeguarding of the natural environment.

Mario Borg, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Gozo, explained that the path towards climate neutrality presents unique challenges for small islands like Gozo, requiring solutions that strike a balance between environmental goals and constraints related to land size and resource availability. The plan being presented outlines a practical strategy for Gozo in this regard.

GRDA CEO Juergen Attard stated, “the plan we published today is a significant step towards the goal of making Gozo Malta’s first climate-neutral region. It is an evidence-based plan that provides a clearer picture of what needs to be done to achieve this ambition. Therefore, this is not the end of the process but the beginning of the implementation phase, where this evidence must be translated into concrete and realistic action that strengthens Gozo’s sustainability and resilience, while continuing to improve the quality of life for our communities.”

Abigail Cutajar, CEO of the Climate Action Authority, said, “the collaboration between the Climate Action Authority and the Gozo Regional Development Authority perfectly reflects the role we believe the CAA should play: not to dictate to Gozo how to reduce emissions, but to align regional ambition with national climate policy, ensuring that no decisions regarding energy, transport, or planning are made in isolation. With tools like EcoTrack already assisting public entities in measuring their consumption, our goal now is to translate this data into practical projects that make Gozo’s transition tangible and bring it closer to the people.”

The Minister for Gozo concluded by noting that the next step involves the Government, the GRDA, the Climate Action Authority, and various entities working together to translate the presented evidence and plans into concrete measures and realistic implementation.

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