The Malta Sociological Association notes the application for a renewal of the IPPC Permit for Malta North Waste Treatment Facility, IP 00011/24, submitted by WasteServ Malta Ltd. The MSA reiterates that permit renewals and variations should be informed by and form part of a Social Impact Assessment (SIA). An SIA would provide insight into how local communities perceive and are affected by the site (and changes to it), and could help identify mitigation measures that build public trust and reduce social tension. Such assessments are especially important in areas where residents have hosted waste infrastructure for many years and where cumulative impacts may shape public attitudes. Clear communication and meaningful engagement with local stakeholders are also essential to ensure transparency and accountability. We believe that integrating social dimensions into planning and permitting processes is not only good practice but a necessary step towards socially responsible environmental governance.
The International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintend
ed social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and follows established social-scientific methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.
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