The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the First Update of Malta's National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) as an important contribution towards improving environmental quality and public health.
The MSA recommends that the implementation and future revisions of the Programme explicitly mainstream Social Impact Assessment (SIA) alongside environmental and economic considerations. Air pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a social one, with unequal impacts across different population groups, particularly children, older persons, people with chronic health conditions, lower-income households, and communities exposed to higher levels of pollution.
The MSA also encourages the Programme to adopt a stronger social rights perspective, recognising clean air as an essential component of health, well-being, and quality of life. Policies aimed at reducing emissions should be designed to maximise social benefits while ensuring that the costs and benefits of the transition are distributed fairly across society.
Embedding SIA within the NAPCP would strengthen evidence-informed policymaking by identifying potential social impacts, supporting meaningful stakeholder participation, and promoting more equitable and socially sustainable environmental policies. Such an approach would contribute to a healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive Malta.
.jpg)