It notes that Malta’s final NECP update will present two scenarios 'With Existing Measures (WEM)' and 'With Planned Measures (WPM)' and that "[e]ach proposed measure will be/is being analysed from two key aspects: its investment needs and its abatement potential, allowing for the analysis of economic impacts and benefits of reducing GHG emissions along with the respective economic investment costs and operational cost/savings compared to a baseline. The lower the cost/benefit ratio, the more cost-effective the measure will be."
The MSA recommends that the analysis also include an assessment of the social impacts and benefits. This would go beyond 'social acceptability' and 'quality of life' as measured by linear quantitative metrics, but would take a more comprehensive approach which considers a wider range of potential impacts, both positive and negative, in line with the International Principles for Social Impact Assessment. Indeed, the International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended 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 should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.
The MSA hence recommends a social impact assessment in line with the International Principles for Social Impact Assessment as part of the update to Malta's National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030.
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