Gozo’s drive to achieve climate neutrality

Gozo’s drive to achieve climate neutrality is a political commitment outlined in the 2022 electoral manifesto Malta Flimkien and is in line with Malta’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, which clearly states that the island of Gozo can become carbon neutral before the national 2050 target.

This is not merely an aspirational goal but a necessary response to the pressing environmental challenges being faced. Central to Gozo’s climate neutrality efforts is the role of the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA).

Achieving climate neutrality involves balancing greenhouse gas emissions with removal or offsetting measures, effectively reducing the carbon footprint of the island. Gozo’s commitment to this goal is reflected in its various initiatives. The most visible of such initiatives is Gozo’s participation in the 100 Smart Cities Mission which represents a strategic framework that complements its goals for climate neutrality.

The 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Initiative is a European initiative that forms part of the Horizon Europe programme. Its primary aim is to support and facilitate the transition of 100 European cities towards climate neutrality by 2030. This ambitious goal is a key component of the European Green Deal, which seeks to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The purpose of the Cities Mission extends beyond simply achieving climate neutrality in the selected cities. These cities are intended to act as experimentation and innovation hubs, demonstrating pathways and solutions that can inspire and enable other cities across Europe to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The initiative seeks to address a wide range of urban systems that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, including energy supply, buildings, mobility, waste management, and urban planning.

The GRDA is committed to stewarding the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission so much so that this commitment features prominently in the Regional Development Strategy for Gozo. However, several issues need to be addressed, including the administrative framework within which the Authority must operate and the fact that most actions required fall within the remit of other national competent authorities.

The GRDA has been working to overcome such issues over the past years. A preliminary market consultation (PMC) was issued by the GRDA on the 25th of January 2024 to seek further information from potential economic operators on preparing a detailed study that will identify possible legislative amendments as well as prepare a detailed action and investment plan for the island of Gozo to achieve climate neutrality. This was followed by open tender, which asked for the development of a plan for the island of Gozo to achieve climate neutrality by a viable target date. The process of determining a viable target date will involve an extensive consultation process both with state and non-state actors and must outline a business-as-usual scenario, and at least two different scenarios. The resulting plan will identify measures and actions and the investment required for each action and scenario.

Following the conclusion of the competitive procurement process, KPMG was selected as the partner that will be working with GRDA for the development of this ambitious plan. The work has already started, and it is envisaged that the plan for climate neutrality for Gozo will be concluded and published during next year. This will be an ongoing journey that not only benefits Gozo but also sets a roadmap for the whole country to follow suit.

For more information, visit the GRDA’s Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.