MALTA’S LIBERAL LIES: USA NO DIRTIER THAN MALTA ITSELF 

By Economist

A misconception persists in Malta. The liberal press frequently singles out the United States as the primary environmental villain. Coverage in the Times of Malta and similar outlets regularly highlights American emissions, policy shifts under successive administrations, and historical contributions to climate change. Direct, repeated framing of the US as the singular “worst offender” appears more as a recurring narrative than isolated quotes. Broader commentary often implies US exceptionalism in pollution without equivalent scrutiny of other major emitters.

In truth, Malta and the United States stand almost level on the key global measure.

The Environmental Performance Index, or EPI, is produced by Yale and Columbia universities. It ranks nearly 180 countries on dozens of indicators. These cover air quality, water and sanitation, biodiversity, waste, fisheries, agriculture and climate change mitigation. Higher scores show better performance.

In the 2026 EPI, Malta ranks 26th with a score of 59.09. The United States ranks 27th with 58.54. The difference is negligible. Malta and the USA sit firmly in the top fifth of nations.

Yet Malta trails the United States in several key areas. On air quality, the US scores higher and ranks better. Independent pollution indexes also show Malta with markedly worse air pollution, dirtier streets and poorer waste perceptions. Local exposure to grime and environmental problems ranks among the highest in the European Union.

Still, both countries outperform the great majority of the world. Scores near 59 place them well above the global average. Most nations lag far behind on the same metrics.

China ranks 129th with a score of just 33.9. It remains the largest absolute emitter of carbon dioxide by a wide margin. Its industrial scale drives global pollution. Yet the Maltese liberal press rarely subjects Beijing to the same sustained scrutiny it reserves for Washington.

If the Maltese public truly cares about the environment, personal choices matter. Buying fewer Chinese-made goods would reduce demand for the energy that fuels those industries. Consumption drives production. Lower demand cuts emissions at source. Rhetoric alone changes nothing.