“Malta has long been a leader in the global climate discussion. It was in 1988 that our former president, Dr Vincent Tabone, formally requested the inclusion of ‘Conservation of Climate as part of the Common Heritage of Mankind’ on the agenda of the 43rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. This initiative led to a dedicated plenary meeting on 24 October 1988, culminating in the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 43/53, which recognised climate change as a global concern requiring urgent action. Decades later, the warnings issued in that assembly have materialised before our very eyes, yet our response remains insufficient. This is not the first time Malta has spoken up—let it not be another time when no one listens,” stated Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, Dr Anġlu Farrugia, as he delivered the keynote address on Theme 3: Climate Change in the Euro-Mediterranean Region at the Parliamentary Forum on the Future of the Mediterranean in Granada, Spain. Addressing a high-level gathering of parliamentarians and civil society representatives from across the region, Speaker Farrugia urged leaders to move beyond rhetoric and commit to enforceable, collective climate action.
He warned that the Mediterranean is warming 20% faster than the global average and is already experiencing rising sea levels, water scarcity, and extreme heat events. “This is not a hypothetical scenario—it is our lived reality,” he stated. Citing Malta’s pioneering environmental initiatives—including the launch of offshore wind energy tenders and the full implementation of shore-to-ship power systems—he said that while Malta is doing its part, real change will only come through regional unity. He advocated for the creation of a Mediterranean Climate Fund, legally binding carbon reduction targets, and a diversified energy transition that includes hydrogen technologies. “We must not be afraid to act. We must not allow hesitation or vested interests to hold us back. If we do not act decisively, then who will?”
Speaker Farrugia also contributed to the Forum’s other priority themes. On theme 1: Peace and Stability in the Mediterranean Region, he warned against the growing narrative equating militarisation with security. He reaffirmed Malta’s constitutional commitment to neutrality and recalled the vision of former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, who, during Malta’s active participation in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in the 1970s, clearly stated, “There can be no peace in Europe without peace in the Mediterranean.” Speaker Farrugia noted that this statement remains just as relevant today, urging fellow leaders to invest not in arms but in education, cultural diplomacy, youth engagement, and mutual understanding. “True security,” he stated, “is not built on weapons systems—but on trust, cooperation, and shared values.”
Under theme 2: The Specific Challenges Posed by Migratory Flows in the Mediterranean, Speaker Farrugia described the Mediterranean as a region where the effects of inequality, instability, and underdevelopment are acutely visible. “The real crisis is not that people move,” he said, “but that we continue to fail to invest in their potential where they are.” Referring to Malta’s experience—where nearly or more than a quarter of the population is foreign-born—he called for a shift toward co-development and investment in human dignity, advocating for the expansion of EU vocational and entrepreneurship programmes in countries of origin.
On theme 4: Youth Employment and Gender Equality in the Mediterranean Region, the Speaker emphasised that these issues are fundamental to regional stability and prosperity. He highlighted Malta’s success in implementing free childcare, supporting female leadership, and launching youth employment pathways in tech, finance, and the green economy. However, he underlined the need for shared action. “The region cannot solve these issues in isolation,” he stated, proposing the establishment of a Mediterranean Youth and Gender Observatory to collect data, identify challenges, and promote inclusive solutions.
During the Forum, the Speaker of the House of Representatives also had the honour of meeting His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, with whom he briefly discussed the importance of strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the face of shared regional challenges.
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia is accompanied by Carmelo Abela and Bernice Bonello.
