Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546858
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS Gozo's climate neutral plan ry, with an estimated €5 mil- lion–€50 million cost. 6. Repair rather than throw away Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million The strategy also ventures into the circular economy with pro- posals for community repair and reuse hubs. These would focus particularly on electronics and furniture, ex- tending the life of products and keeping usable materials out of the waste stream. Unlike the larger infrastructure projects elsewhere in the strate- gy, this is classified as a low-cost measure, between €0.1 million and €5 million. 7. Single-use plastics would face tougher rules Timeline: Short term — 0–2 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million The plan proposes updat- ed packaging regulations and stronger business compliance mechanisms aimed at phasing out single-use plastics across commercial and retail activities. The proposal could include a move towards reusable container systems. Again, implementation is en- visaged within 0–2 years, with an estimated cost of €0.1 million to €5 million. 8. Solar panels could double as shade Timeline: Medium term — 2–5 years Cost: Medium scale — €5 mil- lion–€50 million The strategy proposes installing solar photovoltaic canopies over walkways, outdoor spaces and car parks. The idea combines renewable electricity generation with a sec- ond function: providing shade to pedestrians and users of public spaces. Unlike the first seven measures, this falls into the medium-term 2–5-year timeframe. The estimated cost is also high- er, at €5 million–€50 million. 9. Apartment residents could share solar power Timeline: Medium term — 2–5 years Cost: Medium scale — €5 mil- lion–€50 million The plan also seeks to overcome one of the practical limitations of rooftop solar: not everyone has access to a suitable roof. It proposes accelerating rooftop PV deployment while introduc- ing virtual net metering and com- munity solar schemes, allowing apartment dwellers to participate in renewable energy generation. The measure is scheduled for 2–5 years and falls into the €5 mil- lion–€50 million medium-scale investment category. 10. Three quarters of the fleet could eventually be electric Timeline: Medium term meas- ures — 2–5 years Long-term target: 75% EV fleet share by 2040 Cost: Medium scale — €5 mil- lion–€50 million Gozo's transport transition would not rely exclusively on fewer cars. The plan also envisages a major shift from petrol and diesel to- wards electric vehicles, including financial grants, expanded charg- ing infrastructure, micro-EV tax- is and direct solar-to-EV charging systems. The measures needed to begin this transition are classified as medium-term, with costs falling into the €5 million–€50 million medium-scale category. The longer-term target is for 75% of the vehicle fleet to be elec- tric by 2040. The strategy therefore com- bines two approaches to trans- port emissions: reducing reliance on private vehicles in some lo- cations while progressively re- placing combustion engines with electric ones. 11. Farmers could use clay to save water Timeline: Medium term — 2–5 years Cost: Low — €0.1 million–€5 million One of the more unusual pro- posals concerns agriculture. The plan recommends Self-Reg- ulating Low Energy Clay-based Irrigation (SLECI) systems, which use porous clay technology below the soil surface to release water according to soil moisture con- ditions. The intended result is more ef- ficient irrigation, reducing both water and energy consumption. The measure is classified as me- dium-term, but falls into the low- er €0.1 million–€5 million cost bracket. 12. Organic waste could become biogas Timeline: Medium term — 2–5 years Cost: Major investment — €50 million+ The most expensive of the 12 selected measures is the pro- posed development of anaerobic digestion facilities for municipal organic waste in Gozo. The technology would divert organic material away from land- fill while producing biogas and renewable electricity. The measure is classified as a major investment of more than €50 million, while implemen- tation is envisaged within 2–5 years. What the public asked for — but did not make the list The consultation process which included an on-line survey produced proposals that went considerably further than the 12 measures selected as imple- mentable pathways. Some respondents called for the complete removal of fossil-fu- el subsidies, but such a measure falls under national fiscal poli- cy rather than the authority of a Gozo regional strategy. Others proposed a one-car-per- household limit, an outright ban on diesel vehicles, and restric- tions on the number of tourists and vehicles allowed to cross to Gozo by ferry. There were also calls for caps on new residential construction, penalties for energy-inefficient buildings and mandatory PV pan- els and cisterns on new buildings. In the waste sector, stakeholders proposed Pay-As-You-Throw rules and mandatory waste sep- aration specifically for hotels and short-term rentals. Ta' Pinu church (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Rabat, Gozo (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)