An Ecohoney Awareness Raising Event between MBB & The Malta Food Agency held in February 2026

The Climate Crisis & Its Impacts

With 2025 being one of the top 3 warmest years on record, climate change is a reality we are experiencing daily. Extreme weather events such as droughts or flooding are becoming the norm, taking their toll on agriculture and natural ecosystems.

Worldwide, bee colonies are under threat. Given that healthy bee populations are key for biodiversity and food security, this is an ecological issue that we cannot simply ignore. With local apiaries already short in supply, climate change is intensifying the risks and costs of beekeeping, to the degree that the survival of the Maltese Honeybee is also at risk.

Climate change also causes flora to bloom erratically, leading to food shortages that leave bees more vulnerable to colony-threatening diseases. Moreover, extreme weather events which do increase in frequency with climate change, including droughts, heatwaves and flooding, all cause problems. These alongside the increasing presence of the Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis) all threaten local bee colonies.  However, as the article illustrates below, there are still actions that can be taken to drive a more positive outcome.

Malta’s Strategic Response: Mitigation and Adaptation

Being a small island archipelago, Malta is exceptionally vulnerable to the escalating effects of climate change, particularly regarding extreme summer heatwaves and erratic rainfall. With a semi-arid climate, Malta faces two distinct future scenarios pertaining to the global temperature rise and corresponding socio-economic impacts. On the one hand, there is a positive future scenario where Malta can achieve a sustainable and resilient future characterised by renewable energy, green cities, community farming, and clean mobility. On the other hand, the alternative path is defined by immediate crises such as extreme heat waves reaching 46°C, mass migration, and strained infrastructure. In order to progress towards a positive outcome, a shift towards sustainable urban planning and more urgent climate adaptation strategies is necessary. Regardless, it is expected that the local ecosystem and fauna (including the beehives) are to face increased stresses from these extreme weather events. Their survival and resilience through all of this would entail consistent mitigation and adaptability efforts.

On that note, Malta is implementing a multi-faceted approach that mirrors the general European effort towards both mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. This is being done through government policies, strategic infrastructure projects and international collaboration. Malta is actively linking local action to the EU Pollinators Initiative through projects that prioritise habitat restoration. This commitment is illustrated by the ERASMUS+ EcoHoney project, a key initiative dedicated to bridging the gap between EU policy and local action.

Bridging Policy and Local Action with the EcoHoney Project

The EcoHoney project, which is an ERASMUS+ project that the MBB is currently implementing alongside its partners, implements several key tools and activities to educate the public on the vital importance of bees for food safety and the ecosystem. The training models developed within this project, specifically address the urgent need to protect and restore bee habitats as a response to the “EU Pollinators Initiative,” which aims to reverse the decline of wild pollinators by 2030.

Malta’s mitigation strategy also centres on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to sustainable energy. This strategy is put into practice via initiatives such as Project Green, Project Silva, and Pollinatives; which align with the government’s broader afforestation and coastal restoration goals. By connecting these to community-led actions from groups like Friends of the Earth or initiatives like Saving our Blue, the islands are fostering a culture of “individual responsibility” to protect pollinators. Ultimately, promoting “clean bee habitats” through these local and international frameworks serves as the essential first step in ensuring the Maltese Honeybee survives the intensifying pressures of climate change.

Public awareness and education campaigns are fundamental to Malta’s strategy for addressing climate change, serving to engage the population and foster a widespread culture of sustainability. A key component of this effort is the integration of climate change education into the national curriculum, ensuring that younger generations develop the knowledge and eco-friendly habits necessary to face future environmental challenges, one such example is the EkoSkola programme and other government initiatives such as Saving our Blue. Moreover, as part of the EcoHoney project, MBB has recently met with government entities and non-governmental organisations such as The Malta Food Agency, Friends of the Earth & Nature Trust, to raise awareness regarding the project and its aims and ambitions. Such efforts are also being made by the other project members in the corresponding partner countries; France, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria.

Ultimately, the EcoHoney project also promotes and incentivises local communities through its educational handbooks to maintain “clean bee habitats” to improve the economic and touristic attractiveness of their region. An effort which could be considered as the very first step in adapting to climate change, one which needs to be replicated and consistently implemented locally for effective and timely change and adaptation.