New Air Quality Data

For over 5 years the ESG has campaigned for the installation of real-time, mobile, air monitoring units in Gibraltar and for the Northwest zone  to be provided with its own real-time air monitor. Last year saw the purchase and installation of a number of AQMesh pods that have since been tried and tested and placed at different locations around the Rock.

It welcomes the initiative taken by Government this week to publish the live data collected by these pods.

The group will monitor the data over the next few weeks but would like to share its initial views in light of public interest in this matter.

It would like to see monitoring of voc’s – volatile organic compounds associated with fuels and paints etc. – added to the pollutants measured by the pods, or, if this is not possible, to set up the necessary equipment at the hotspots.

It further hopes that in light of the data collected that action plans will be produced and actioned by relevant departments and agencies to reduce pollution in these areas as indicated by the real-time pods.

This is a turning point and a great opportunity for Gibraltar to effectively target worst polluting sources and apply every measure needed to eliminate these and achieve a cleaner and healthier environment for our community.”

The public is urged to visit: gibraltarairquality.gi for more information.”

Coalition for Climate Action (CCA)

August 2019

———————————————————————–

The Coalition for Climate Action is made up of a number of different entities that includes the GONHS, TNP, The Gibraltar Heritage Trust, ESG, Pollution Watch and Sustainable Gibraltar. The coalition formed in response to the heightened awareness of Climate Change and the emergency pledge made by Government to take meaningful action on this critical issue.

The coalition met last Thursday with the Minister for the Environment to present its case for actions needed on climate change.

A full discussion ensued and the groups involved have agreed to continue to lobby directly and publicly for what they believe must form part of the targets and the process. Specifically these are:

• For the setting up of a fully Independent Climate Body, funded and tasked to roll out a cross party supported agenda, set in a timeframe that legally binds all future administrations
• For the areas to be addressed by the Climate Body to include: action on pollution/waste/energy/transport and development
• For the transition away from the use and trade of fossil fuels

The groups will be collecting signatures over the next few weeks for a petition that will be handed to Government on completion of a protest march taking place on the 20^th September from Casemates at 5.30pm in support of a ‘Parents for Future – Climate Change Strike’.

Please support the online petition at:- http://chng.it/jGKpkLmn

Keywords:  DPC / Queens Cinema / The Reserve / Plastic Cartridges / Recycling / Energy Globe award for CUTW!!

A few issues to highlight today as the summer period continues. In the past few weeks, at a regular, and then special, DPC session, applications have been discussed, agreed or deferred, some of these making news headlines. To start with there was a change of use regarding the end of a long standing and one of our few light industries, which is the glass factory. This site will now be converted to a new bank. Provisos were given as it passed through the initial outline planning stage and detailed discussion took place. Another project discussed and agreed was the demolition of the Queens Cinema, another link to our recent past. This end of chapter for this building was also given the go ahead albeit with a number of caveats to record heritage elements of value prior to demolition. The public response to the loss of this building brings sharply into focus the how and the why of planning in Gibraltar and how it is in constant flux. News then that the next Development Plan is being outsourced in order for this to be produced and go through all the hoops as expediently as possible is welcomed by the ESG. This means that during public consultation, the public, that’s all of us, have a chance to try and influence how Gibraltar is developed. Frameworks exist but must be improved and in a small place like Gibraltar, where planning is understandably contentious, this is highly critical.

We issued a press release this week regarding The Reserve – a large, high end apartment block presented to DPC once more at the site of the old casino. Given the unique setting of this site the ESG will continue to lobby for a more appropriate development that will respect and maintain the dynamics of the natural environment in this particular area.

Moving on to other matters and we wanted to state that we share concerns over the appearance of a high volume of plastic cartridge material washing up on our shores produced by a local shooting club. Despite the commendable efforts by all those involved in the Island Games to reduce env impacts from plastics and bottled water, this new plastic hazard has appeared with the games and must be stopped. Gibraltar has managed to run such activities by using more environmentally friendly, soluble, materials so the fact this has happened during a “Clean our Seas”, high profile, sporting event, raises serious questions. Its use must be banned and the clearing up of any remaining items undertaken before any further spread occurs.

But good news regarding the giant fish at eastern beach! After a mere couple of weeks this enormous structure was ¾’s full…. Of the right material!!! Clearly a good and bad thing as we realise just how much single use, disposal plastics we use on a day to day basis, even at the beach!! Still better in the fish than landfill or worse still in the seas. We are told that other such structures are planned for different beaches.

The ESG is honoured to have been presented with a national Energy Globe Award for the long standing CUTW campaign we have run since 2005 and for our efforts to work on local and regional pollution. Selected from over 2,000 projects, and alongside a few hundred others, this community wide campaign caught the attention of this prestigious body whose efforts serve to draw attention internationally of sustained, grassroots environmental projects carried out by NGOs around the world. The Gibraltar community should be proud of their incredible support and efforts for this campaign that has made it the success it is.

Finally, a quick word on the 5G issue. The ESG is following this matter up with Government and industry to ensure that safety, above all else is prioritised and will be issuing a separate statement on this very soon.

Please visit our website at esg-gib.net for all our press releases and more.

Stay cool and keep recycling!!

After 14 years of our nationwide ‘Clean up the World’ Campaign and thousands of volunteers later, news of our sustained efforts locally has reached Energy Globe in Austria.

The ESG has been selected, along with 180 others, from 2000 project submissions around the world, to receive an Energy Globe National Award, and be in the selection process for the highly valued International Award. Projects are chosen for having a sustained and significant impact on the environment and range from innovative technological solutions applicable everywhere, to engaging society in making changes to protect our planet.

The ESG is therefore thrilled to have been nominated and to participate in this global award programme and to see its flagship Clean up the World campaign recognised in this way and placing Gibraltar on a highly visible world platform for sustainable actions.

It is especially honoured to share a platform with all other nominees whose projects and work can be found online at links provided below and are truly inspirational.

“About this Award”

“With more than 182 participating countries and over 2000 project submissions annually the Energy Globe Award is today’s most prestigious environmental prize worldwide. It distinguishes projects regionally, nationally and globally that conserve resources such as energy or utilize renewable or emission-free sources. Award ceremonies are held all over the world. Prominent personalities as well as Energy Globe Ambassadors in 90 countries support the mission of Energy Globe. The activities of Energy Globe attract worldwide media attention – international TV stations report each year with approximately 1,000 hours of broadcasting time. The aim of the Energy Globe is to raise global attention on sustainable, everywhere applicable environmental solutions and to motivate people to also become active in this area.”

……………………………………………………………………………..

Links to other Nominees can be found here:

https://www.energyglobe.info/en/award/

Link to International Awards can be found here:-

https://www.energyglobe.info/en/world-awards/