Imagine standing on the bustling Republic Street in Valletta, the sun beating down, and suddenly, the air feels a little fresher. That’s the promise of today’s news – a victory for our little island nation on the global stage of climate change. The United Nations has just affirmed that states have obligations to protect their citizens from climate change, and Malta was right there, cheering from the sidelines.

In the grand halls of the UN, Malta, along with 120 other countries, co-sponsored a resolution that clarifies states’ obligations to protect their citizens from the impacts of climate change. This isn’t just about us; it’s about every child playing on the sandy beaches of Golden Bay, every farmer tilling the fields in Żebbuġ, and every senior citizen enjoying the sunset in Marsaxlokk.

Our Foreign Minister, Evarist Bartolo, didn’t mince his words. “Climate change is not a distant threat,” he said, “It’s here, it’s now, and it’s affecting us all.” Malta, with its low-lying coastline and reliance on tourism, knows this all too well. We’re not just talking about the future; we’re talking about our present and our children’s future.

Malta’s UN Ambassador, Joan Chemla, was instrumental in pushing this resolution. She’s been a tireless advocate, shuttling between our tiny island and the diplomatic hub of Geneva. “We can’t afford to wait,” she told me over a call. “We need to act now, and we need everyone, from the smallest island nations to the largest powers, to step up.”

Malta’s climate diplomacy is nothing new. Remember when we hosted the COP25 pre-COP meeting in 2019? We’ve been punching above our weight, using our voice to amplify the calls of the most vulnerable nations. This UN resolution is just the latest example of that.

So, what does this mean for us? It means our government has a stronger mandate to protect us from climate change. It means we can hold our leaders accountable for their promises. It means we can demand better climate education in our schools, greener policies in our cities, and more ambitious climate targets.

But it also means we have a responsibility. We can’t just sit back and expect our government to do everything. We need to push for change, demand action, and make our voices heard. Because this isn’t just about politics; it’s about our homes, our families, and our future.

As Malta’s Environment Minister, Aaron Farrugia, put it, “This resolution is a victory, but it’s also a call to action. We need to keep pushing, keep fighting, and keep demanding a better future for our children.”