The Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA), the National Statistics Office, have joined forces with the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) to develop indicators to measure the national progress on the implementation of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy
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MEPA, NSO and ONS organised a joint mission between 30th June and 4th July, to develop a methodology for computing the sustainable development indicator known as Domestic Material Consumption, which measures the resource productivity of the economy, in the Maltese island context. This indicator is one of the key indicators presented annually by EUROSTAT, to indicate progress among Member States in implementing sustainable development strategies.

The project is co-funded by the UK High Commission in Malta and MEPA.

This material efficiency indicator calculates the total quantity of material consumed by a national economy, showing the dependency that residents have on physical resources, and also assesses the efficiency of use of scarce resources. Being able to assess material efficiency will allow the competent authorities to evaluate comprehensively the availability of natural resources and where to possibly intervene to promote more sustainable choices in the economic, social and environmental spheres.
The recommendations contained in the final report will be discussed with the relevant stakeholders, and consequently implemented, establishing an efficient and effective tool in order to measure sustainable development patterns and to provide Maltese policy makers with an additional tool to guide policy.