FAA open letter calls for environmental, social justice

In an open letter calling for environmental and social justice, Fimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) has spoken out against the “lack of planning and enforcement that is ruining the quality of life, landscapes and streetscapes of our islands”.

On Tuesday, FAA distributed its open letter across social media platforms and through email, encouraging individuals and businesses alike to add their support to the initiative by signing the letter.

The letter states that the health and quality of life of residents in Malta had deteriorated under different governments as rampant construction had ruined towns and villages, while damaging policies continued unabated to pave the way for more building in the countryside, impacting agriculture and biodiversity.

“Our islands are paralysed by the ever-increasing traffic which is costing the nation €274 million a year in terms of lost productivity and ill-health due to toxic emissions – contributing to lung conditions, heart problems, cancer and strokes – as well as taking us ever further from our 2020 climate change targets,” the letter reads.

FAA claimed that the recent permits approved to build high-rise buildings would accelerate the degradation of the affected communities while further intensifying transport and infrastructure shortcomings in areas that were already barely coping.

“These immediate changes to our urban landscape are being pushed through without the essential studies and holistic vision that provides comprehensive planning solutions taking into account the developments’ cumulative social impact and the limitations of our island,” FAA said.

The letter called for policies that give importance to urban-carrying capacity rather than construction capacity, “which results in immediate financial gain for the few, at the expense of the many”.