Environmental Governance in Malta: A Trajectory and Reflections on Shaping Institutions for Policy Learning

Abstract

This paper begins by charting the trajectory of Malta's political, policy and institutional innovation in relation to environmental issues since the Islands gained independence in 1964. It examines the growth of the Maltese environmental movement post-independence and the creation of governing institutions in response to public concern and international momentum. It then provides an analysis of the current situation in terms of issues, attitudes and narratives, particularly in relation to the construction and transport sectors. The paper reviews international practices and challenges in terms of environmental policy integration and democratic innovations, as well as positive experiences from the Maltese context. It concludes with some reflections, drawing on the roles of knowledge, public reason and social trust in environmental governance. This paper may be especially relevant to the study of governing institutions operating under conditions of intense pressure and the clientelist politics typical of small, densely-populated jurisdictions.