Like any other environmental policy, commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions requires the development of specific action for different sectors. The first action is to know how much greenhouse gas emissions are being produced to observe trends and identify the scale of the problem. Then if action is needed, a target is usually set followed by defined policies to direct how such action is to be taken. The implementation of such action is then monitored. Therefore by monitoring trends in greenhouse gas emissions and the performance of policies developed to reduce such emissions, a country is able to manage its respective actions to combat climate change more effectively.
The EU’s Monitoring Mechanism Decision 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council constitutes the backbone of the European Community's greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring system and it stems from the EU’s commitment to implement its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.
Malta has the obligation to submit its annual National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory and the biennial report on Climate Change policies and measures and projections (PAMs), in accordance with the EU’s Monitoring Mechanism Articles 3(1) and 3(2) respectively. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is the designated Competent Authority to prepare these reports. The monitoring of GHG emissions and the related policies adopted to reduce or limit such emissions will enable Malta to gauge the effectiveness of its policies and measures and to manage its actions towards meeting the commitments it has agreed to, together with the other EU Member States, in the Climate Change and Energy package that was adopted in December 2008.