The Malta Business Bureau (MBB)’s Energy Ecosystem won the Engager Award at the first edition of the Malta Climate Action Awards held last week, it has announced.

These awards aimed to recognise and celebrate the actions taken by local businesses, public and private organisations, groups and individuals in the fight against climate change across the Maltese islands.

Marking the award, the MBB explained that its bid focused on its efforts to help businesses improve the energy efficiency of their operations, cutting emissions and costs in the process.

This, it said, was mainly carried out through technical workshops, awareness events, the promotion of available financial support schemes, lobbying and collaborating with the national Government, and by conducting studies to further knowledge on key issues affecting industry.

Through these various schemes, the organisation reported being able to reach around 150 business in Malta.

“These efforts are bearing fruit, with national statistics showing that while the gross value added of industry is increasing, their energy consumption is increasing at a slower rate,” the MBB reflected, pointing out: “This indicates a decoupling between energy consumption and productivity.”

Celebrating the award, MBB CEO Joe Tanti said: “We are proud to receive this award which recognises our hard work over several years in this important area.

“This achievement has been fostered through a collaborative approach with key stakeholders, such as relevant Government agencies and businesses which show great enthusiasm to improve their efficiency.”

Looking to the future, he said that the organisation is now keen to continue to build up this ecosystem and strengthen its collaborations.

In its announcement, the MBB also acknowledged that Malta is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with its already limited natural resources and heavy reliance on foreign imports.

Supply disruptions abroad will have a clear impact on prices and availability locally, it also pointed out, and the country is also dependent on inbound tourism, which in turn is said to rely on favourable weather and climate conditions.

On his part, MBB Senior Executive for sustainability, Gabriel Cassar added, “over the last year the EU has significantly increased its climate ambitions and set harder targets on energy use and emission reductions.

“This will require a concerted effort from all actors to increase efficiency and source energy from cleaner solutions. For MBB, this is a constantly evolving area which we are strengthening through new projects and activities.”