Malta is committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Malta’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) outline how Malta will achieve this goal.
The aim of the Climate Action Awards is to recognise and celebrate the actions and achievements taken by local businesses, public and private organisations, groups and individuals in the fight against climate change across the Maltese Islands.
The Awards will seek to act as a catalyst in encouraging and inspiring others to take action towards reducing emissions and adapting to climate change. To this purpose, the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning (MECP) invites and encourages all those eligible to take up the challenge and the opportunity to help deliver change on our islands. The Climate Action Awards will culminate in an awards ceremony later in 2021, where the most creative, innovative and ingenious local climate initiatives, projects and actions will be recognised and awarded.
The Climate Action Awards will serve as the culmination of the first edition of the #ClimateOn Campaign, the first national campaign specifically dedicated to raising awareness and disseminating education about the Climate Change crisis.
The Climate Action Awards will include a total of five categories, for which a winner will be awarded for each category. An overall Climate Action Crusader winner will also be awarded in addition to these categories during the Awards Night.
The Awards Night will also serve as a networking opportunity for contestants and climate experts and will also feature a climate related exhibition (Covid-19 permitting).
Climate Actors can submit their projects, initiatives, or actions under five categories. Each category has been given a number of suggestive indicators to help describe what type of actions best suite each category.
- Category A - Agent of Change
Agents of Change are those who are carrying out actions on the ground to directly reduce the causes of climate change – greenhouse gases emissions.
- Category B - Facilitator
Facilitators are the behind the scene drivers, pulling the strings in strategic moves, to push Malta in the right direction, thus indirectly leading to climate mitigation and/or adaptation.
- Category C - Illuminator
Illuminators are involved in projects that generate information, which can increase understanding and knowledge.
- Category D - Innovator
Innovators are those developing and implementing new innovative solutions, by thinking ahead on the implications of climate change, and how human society is creatively developing new means of mitigating the cause of climate change.
- Category E - Engager
Engagers aim to transmit accurate information and interact with society, to transform it into one that is more informed and engaged in climate change issues.
Applicants must submit an Application form accessible from a banner on the home page of this online portal. Applications must outline the following information:
• A brief description of the project/initiative/action and how it was implemented;
• Aims of the project/initiative/action;
• The results achieved;
• The long-term viability, applicability, and replication potential; and
• The achieved impact.
Applications must be submitted by 13 August 2021. More information on how the application form must be filled in can be found online.
The Awards Night is envisaged to take place in the final months of 2021. More information on the exact date and venue will eventually be made available to eligible applicants. The Awards Night will also host other Programmes’ achievements, including the youth oriented Seed Green Programme which is being run in collaboration with the Junior Chamber International – JCI Malta.
Winning prizes include €4,000 for the first place winner of each category and an additional €6,000 for the Climate Action Crusader. Each Category Winner will be presented with a trophy and a monetary prize. The overall winner will be granted stewardship of the Climate Action Crusader shield. A separate award will be rewarded with a trophy for the initiative that is most liked by the public. Voting for this public award will take place on the official Facebook page of the #ClimateOn Campaign, where the initiative with the most likes and shares will be identified as the winner. Winners will also benefit from publicity of their innovative initiatives, through the publication of a press release other online media material and by delivering a presentation at future potential events.