Malta Achieves 24th Place In Global Sustainable Development Rankings

Malta has made significant strides in sustainable development, advancing 12 places to rank 24th out of 167 countries in the 2025 Sustainable Development Report. This report, issued by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), awarded Malta a score of 79.3%, representing a notable improvement from its 36th place ranking in the 2024 edition.

Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness, Miriam Dalli, expressed satisfaction at this outcome, stating that the collective work of the government is yielding results recognised on the international stage. She emphasised that the investment and commitment towards sustainable development are improving the quality of life for citizens and strengthening Malta’s global standing in this area.

Despite facing ongoing challenges related to climate, limited natural resources and its insularity as an island nation, Malta has continued to implement policies that protect its environment while supporting its people.

The government has invested in maintaining stable energy prices, expanding renewable energy infrastructure, and upgrading the electricity distribution system to cope with rising temperatures. In the water sector, Malta now boasts the highest quality water nationwide, thanks to continued investment. Waste management improvements are also contributing to progress in the circular economy, where waste is increasingly regarded as a resource.

Minister Dalli reiterated Malta’s determination to continue addressing these challenges through consistent policy development and cross-ministerial collaboration. She reaffirmed that Malta remains committed to achieving the targets it has set as a United Nations member state.

Director of the Sustainable Development Directorate, Francine Pace Caruana, added that Malta is just weeks away from presenting its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York. She explained that the report was developed with the input of all ministries and entities, along with contributions from civil society, the private sector, academia and the general public. The report focused on the progress made while identifying areas where further improvement is needed across social, economic and environmental dimensions.

This positive result coincides with a statement from the National Statistics Office confirming continued growth in the use of renewable energy in Malta. Compared to 2023, photovoltaic energy generation increased by 5.8% in 2024, highlighting the country’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and cleaner energy sources.

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