Malta’s Social Climate Plan was the fourth plan endorsed by the Commission under the Social Climate Fund.
The Maltese plan supports vulnerable households to increase their resilience to rising energy and transport costs by reducing their dependency on fossil fuels. The Plan supports particularly those facing difficulties in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. It also expands access to sustainable transport for vulnerable users and supports vulnerable micro-enterprises in the uptake of electric vehicles.
Key figures- The Maltese plan will mobilise more than €60 million from 2026 to 2032
- It aims to renovate 236 publicly owned social apartments and support another 1 431 energy-vulnerable households, 30 000 vulnerable transport users, and 865 vulnerable micro-enterprises
- The implementation of the plan is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 500 tonnes of CO2-equivalent from 2026 to 2032
Context
- Malta’s plan highlights major challenges for people and small businesses. It identifies 43 301 vulnerable households, including 3 747 already living in energy poverty. It also finds 147 215 vulnerable transport users affected by transport poverty. In addition, the Social Climate Plan identified 39 545 vulnerable micro-enterprises. These vulnerable groups face high energy and transport costs and often cannot afford to improve energy efficiency or move to cleaner forms of transport.
- Malta’s Social Climate Plan includes investments to permanently reduce energy and transport poverty and decrease the exposure of the most vulnerable to fossil fuel price and fluctuations.
What measures does it fund?
- Publicly managed social housing will be upgraded to use less energy and move towards net-zero energy standards. The investment will support 236 apartments, focusing on buildings with a many social housing units, strong energy-saving potential and residents in vulnerable situations.
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy systems, including heat pump water heaters and photovoltaic systems with battery storage, will be installed in 1 431 apartments in buildings used for public social housing.
- Vulnerable micro-enterprises will be supported in purchasing an electric vehicle and installing a charging point. This support will help cover the potential extra cost of buying an electric vehicle instead of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The scheme targets vulnerable micro-enterprises exposed to higher fossil fuel costs.
- Local councils will be supported in acquiring electric vehicles and charging infrastructure to expand free on-demand community transport services. This investment aims to improve access to essential services for vulnerable transport users, including persons with limited mobility and disabilities.
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Funding
- The total budget of the Maltese Social Climate Plan amounts to €60.6 million
- The EU contributes €45.4 million from the Social Climate Fund, fully financed by the EU Emission Trading Systems (EU ETS & ETS2)
- Malta covers the remaining share (minimum 25% of the plan’s costs)
Who benefits from the plan?
- The Maltese plan benefits low-income households facing structural barriers, such as energy-inefficient housing or limited public transport accessibility, as well as vulnerable micro-enterprises in transport-reliant sectors.
- A total of 1 431 vulnerable households are expected to use less energy and save more. In addition, 236 households struggling with energy costs will have their homes upgraded to use less energy and move towards net-zero energy standards.
- More than 30 000 users are projected to benefit from door-to-door community transport service, especially elderly people and persons with disabilities.
- 865 vulnerable microenterprises will gain improved access to affordable electric mobility and charging infrastructure.
Timeline at a glance
- 29 July 2026Commission endorses Malta’s Social Climate Plan
- first half of 2028Start of most of the investments
- 2032Social Climate Fund fully implemented
Related documents
Malta’s Social Climate Plan
Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Malta
Annexes 1-4 to the Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Malta
- Annexes 1-4 to the Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Malta (DE)
- Annexes 1-4 to the Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Malta (FR)
- Annexes 1-4 to the Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Malta (MT)