The Royal Malta Yacht Club today launched its Sustainability Compass, an initiative that underscores the Club’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. This initiative aims to minimise the Club’s environmental impact, uphold strong social responsibility practices, and ensure transparency and accountability through exemplary governance.
The purpose of this initiative is to inspire generations of responsible sailors, by nurturing a culture of respect for our seas. This will be achieved by educating and empowering Club members, sailors, RMYC Sailing School students and the wider community about the Club’s sustainability values which encompass the respect for our waters, inclusivity in action, fostering of friendship and team work, and creating a legacy through sailing.
This first sustainability report reflects the Club’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, aligning with the principles of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and drawing on established global standards. The first part of the process started with the gathering of data, setting ambitious yet achievable targets through 2030, and outlining clear action plans. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the Club’s sustainability efforts with goals set for 2030, progress made in 2023, if any, and clear actionable targets for 2024.
“The report details our collaboration with World Sailing, partnerships with Zibel and the Rolex Middle Sea Race, and the contributions from various departments and stakeholders within the Club. This report serves as a baseline, and we remain dedicated to ongoing improvement, as we navigate a more sustainable future for the Club and the marine environment” remarked Melanie Vella, Sustainability Consultant.
The five pillars around which this initiative will revolve around are the Natural Environment: prioritising the protection and preservation of natural surroundings through sustainable practices; Education & Training: enhancing knowledge and skills related to sustainability amongst Club members and the community; Events: implementing sustainable practices in Club events to minimize environmental impact; Community Engagement: fostering strong relationships and collaboration with the local community; and Governance: ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in all Club operations.
RMYC Sustainability Officer Mark Vella went on to explain that “As we build capacity and implement robust data collection systems and governance, particularly within the events field, we will progressively expand our focus areas. This will enable us to address emerging sustainability challenges and opportunities more effectively.”
The Club will also be launching a social media education campaign which consists of the 5 Sustainable Actions for Sailors. These actions provide sailors with a fun, engaging, and actionable list of daily habits to kick-start their sustainable sailing journey. For this campaign a number of club members and sailing school students were roped in as ambassadors for this initiative.
Cultivating a sustainable community has long been on the Club’s agenda and it has a longstanding positive relationship with the Local Council of Ta’ Xbiex. “We value sustainability efforts driven by the RMYC in our local community. Together we can build a more inclusive community where we all care for our natural environment and our coastal areas,” said Mayor Max Zammit, who was present for the launch.
This collaborative effort focuses on promoting sustainability and fostering a love for sailing within the local community and signifies the power of local partnerships in fostering a thriving and sustainable Ta’ Xbiex.
“The RMYC Sustainability Compass represents a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering a sustainable future for sailing and our community. We look forward to the journey ahead and the positive impact we can achieve together” remarked Club Commodore, David Cremona.
