This year the ESG has had to keep all publicity and arrangements for the Clean up to a minimum following Covid and Public Health guidelines.

This years poster has therefore been modified to promote awareness about litter and NOT call for volunteers. Our 18 teams (out of our usual 30 teams) were made up from longterm participants. We are so very grateful to all for stepping up to the task of ensuring our natural environment once again benefits from the great community and voluntary clean up effort.

The ESG is very disappointed by the fact that the proposed project for the new elderly care home on Bishop Caruana Road has been passed by the DPC. Although the ESG recognises the need for this kind of provision for the elderly, it does not consider that the proposed building is the best solution.

It considers the project is totally unacceptable for a range of reasons. To begin with the height of the building will significantly diminish the access to light of those other elderly residents living in Bishop Canilla House. This, in our view, must be reviewed.

The ESG expressed a number of concerns at the DPC meeting itself centering on design, need for holistic plan of entire site, and landscaping at ground floor which is a requirement for all developments under the current development plan.

Described as a sustainable project the ESG would like to see how this has been evaluated from the sourcing of materials to transporting of these and a full account of how it will meet highest energy rating, an objective the Gibraltar Government is now seeking from all developments.

We currently have a project that seeks to create a green environment on top of a very tall building in a wind prone location that will also limit space for solar panels, which are envisaged to form part of the plan and its sustainability compliance.

The ESG holds it own views about trading with China but is focusing only on the environmental aspects here. It believes better designs exist, sourced from countries with a better environmental record than China, without such large transport costs involved, to deliver a more suitable and sustainable facility for our elderly.

It believes this project is being rushed and that more questions need to be answered. It will be calling on Government to review this development.

ESG Radio Broadcast 3^rd September 2020

Good day to all. It’s been some time since our last broadcast.

With cooler weather has come greater activity and despite Covid concerns, an air of hopefully greater optimism that together we can eventually overcome the worst of the difficulties and health threats posed by the Covid virus.

On our side we continue to monitor and engage in local, regional and international environmental news and developments despite these being somewhat eclipsed by the Covid headlines. Only this week we were privileged to enjoy a full hour of our worlds unimaginably beautiful nature and her inhabitants, with who else but Sir David Attenborough, as always, leading us to enjoy, respect and wonder at life away from the human species. A reminder of why we need to change and improve our behaviour to ensure we live with other species and not in place of them.

So we look at what we can do here, in Gibraltar, and how we can play our part. This year the global Clean up the World is taking place on the 19^th September. This will be our 16^th Gibraltar wide clean up. We must emphasise that although plans are underway to ensure some action takes place on the day to help our natural environment and raise awareness within our community, updates will be released in the press and volunteers informed directly, closer to the date,  as to how exactly the Clean up can happen following directives issued by Gibraltar’s Contingency team. Our regular teams are starting to sign up already which is great. If you have taken part before and would like to help, please email esg@gibtelecom.net – and we shall keep you posted.

A few bits of information which may interest you: The Dept. of Env has published a Marine Paper calling for feedback – although the deadline is tomorrow, the 4^th Sept, it is nevertheless a very comprehensive and well researched document with analysis and information on our marine environment and more. You can find the link at: https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/environment/marine-strategy . The ESG has supplied the Department with our feedback and concerns regarding waste and litter handling, sewage, shipping, small craft impacts, fishing, and impacts from the large chemical complex in the Campo area.

Tomorrow morning sees an online meeting of the DPC (Development and Planning Commission) – with a number of large projects coming up and a plethora of smaller items. You can follow the meeting live online by going to Town Planning Gibraltar, click on Development and Planning Commission meetings and the link will appear there.

We are mindful of the wider issues surrounding the continuous construction on the Rock regarding facilities, infrastructure, need for new Plan, climate change, etc. and those of you interested in our long-term objectives could visit esg-gib.net for more information on these. Thanks for liste

ESG Press Release re Tuna Fishing from Gibraltar

The ESG has for some years been observing the developments regarding the local fishing of tuna from Gibraltar. 

It supports the views held by both the GONHS and The Nautilus Project that our fundamental objective should be the conservation and protection of this species. It also supports the responsible actions taken both by the Department and Ministry for the Environment in controlling and managing the tuna fishing in practice today. 

Nevertheless, the group would like to see Tuna Fishing banned in Gibraltar as we strive towards the conservation of our habitats and biodiversity especially as we exit Brexit and assume responsibility of the management of our waters. The group believes the Bay and Straits are important ecological zones for resident and migratory species and should therefore receive full protection from both sides of the border.

While arguments rage over hunting from the wild and the issues surrounding the supply of this meat for human consumption, the ESG considers any animal or fish deemed to be endangered by the IUCN should simply cease to be killed for sport while other options such as tag and release, itself not without controversy or lethal implications for these creatures, be fully studied and considered beforehand.

The ESG believes that Gibraltar should be supporting all efforts to conserve the magnificent creatures we are so privileged to enjoy and admire in our seas and pursue a ban on local tuna fishing.”

Real Steps on Pollution & Climate Change

18^th June 2020

Following recent news that the UK was completing 2 full months without burning coal, the ESG strongly welcomes hearing that the Los Barrios Coal Fired Power Station is expected to cease operating at the end of June 2020 due, it is believed, to a number of issues such as reduced demand and failure to comply with ever tighter EU emission standards.

This will bring great dividends to the Bay’s environment given it is a highly polluting and ageing industry.

Officials delivered news to a gathering which included a number of Spanish environmental NGOs, including Greenpeace, and were told that while plans are to replace some of the lost energy production with wind farms, that full surveys would be undertaken by relevant experts, to ensure the least possible impacts on migratory birds.

Overall, extremely positive news for pollution levels in the Bay.

https://www.europasur.es/campo-de-gibraltar/Palo-economia-Campo-Gibraltar-Barrios_0_1473153270.html

ESG Radio Broadcast –  18^th June 2020

This is the first broadcast by the ESG since the start of the lockdown. An unprecedented time indeed as we have all watched from the sidelines, or rather, indoors, as the global pandemic has its course, at least, for the time being.

What was evident to many during the lockdown was how peaceful and clean our environment became with most of us indoors; the absence of noise was also striking with little traffic, construction etc. Nature could breathe once more…. Our return outdoors has sadly seen a renewal of waste and litter dotted about. We support the widespread calls for fines for such behaviour with enforcement being a priority CUTW objective.

Talking of Clean ups we shall be holding our 16^th annual Gibraltar wide event on the 19^th of September. Some teams have already signalled interest and we hope with enough numbers we can tackle difficult to access green, coastal and underwater sites and make a positive difference! You can email through your details to esg@gibtelecom.net. Thanks!

During the lockdown we have continued working both behind the scenes and actively via interviews and media articles. Committee members have been interviewed on the new traffic measures on the online ‘Aqui Que Pasa’ Podcast, while another took part in a lively Viewpoint discussion on the same subject alongside representatives from each political party. OTWO monthly magazine available online is running monthly articles on our various objectives with June focusing on bunkering impacts. Why not check it out?

Our views on the road closures are that they are fundamentally a good idea and in keeping with the spirit of the ‘Sustainable Traffic and Transport Plan’ but, that a holistic approach is required to ensure the measures deliver a better outcome for the whole of Gibraltar.

They have however, caused significant controversy especially as these were announced and enacted within a very short space of time.

However one could also think that with quieter roads due to no tourism, closed schools and reduced border traffic that this could offer us, the locals, a chance to make important changes to limit non essential motorised transport in certain parts of Gibraltar.

The benefits of such changes could encourage cycling and walking which is good for our health and the environment.

The Park and Ride facility at Devil’s Tower Road will help prevent some visiting traffic from entering town area – the announcement of its refurbishment this week is welcomed..

The bus service was reinstated parallel with the road closures and we support the idea of increasing frequency, perhaps even introducing smaller, shuttle buses that can run between peak traffic periods to shorten waiting times.

An energetic and proactive campaign is needed to replace the aging, diesel coaches and buses and other commercial vehicles on our roads. These are highly polluting and must be tackled with urgency. Incentives and grants will be necessary to make these changes viable.

Looking ahead the ESG will be picking up its lobbying once more on the various large projects for Gibraltar such as: solid and waste water plants, the commissioning of the Duel Fuelled Power Station, shore side power connection and a cross party programme to tackle climate change impacts in Gibraltar.

Visit our website for more information: esg-gib.net

Thanks for listening!

Today marks World Environment Day, a day typically well supported in Gibraltar. Covid has pressed pause on many things including the public promotion of environmental causes and need for state, private and individual action. We wanted to highlight the importance of this day.

The global theme this year is Time for Nature – possibly selected because of the pandemic and how many have found solace in our great, natural environments and reminded of how essential these are to our lives. It follows that we must do all we can to protect our wonderful diversity and habitats.

The ESG carries out ongoing clean ups throughout the year from coastal or green spaces, with only yesterday pulling out coils of oil contaminated rope landing on the shores of Camp Bay. It recognises the sterling work undertaken by The Nautilus Project with its focus on beach litter and the schools.

The recent uproar over the BBQ debris denounced by our community clearly highlights littering as an ongoing local issue that calls for permits and fines to be energetically applied.  

In the wider world we have to mention the recent environmental catastrophe in the Arctic region caused by a major oil spill into the remote Russian Taymyr Tundra this week. Over 20,000 tons leaked into rivers and streams causing devastation to the regions’ ecology. It is being compared to the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska decades ago, which continues to impact species recovery as well as community livelihoods. 

It is well known that the Taymyr tundra in the region over several years has experienced major warming and that the local permafrost is undergoing unprecedented melting. This has been linked to this week’s catastrophe. The clean up will be complex and difficult to achieve increasing the damage caused.

A reminder that today, on World Environment Day, all nations must take up meaningful action on Climate Change without further delay, increase protection of our wilderness areas, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and create a safer world for our children and all species who make up this wonderful planet.

CUTW 2020 set for 19^th September with more info to follow soon.

ESG strongly welcomes Government’s announcement yesterday that it intends to take action in reducing traffic levels from 3 busy road arteries in Gibraltar thereby reducing pollution and creating calmer roads for pedestrians and cyclists also.

The group hopes that the measures announced yesterday mark the start of a radical transport review that will help retain some of the environmental gains made during the lockdown. Clearly accelerating the Park and Ride facility as designed at Devil’s Tower Road will also support any changes in traffic flow in our busy town.

The ESG looks forward to contributing our own recommendations in every way possible and as part of the public feedback exercise stated by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

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The ESG believes Gibraltar should take the opportunity of this pause that has been imposed on us, to try and make real changes on impacts that affect our health, quality of life and Climate Change.

Excessive traffic in our small town is a critical issue and it is hoped that Government has been brainstorming to see what immediate changes can be introduced to limit the full impact from a return to full-on domestic, commercial, construction, and incoming border traffic. A number of cities around Europe are already rolling out new measures to reduce motorised traffic.

The benefits that come from clean air and calm roads, have been experienced by us all during the pandemic, indeed with many commenting on how positive the improvements have been. 

We hope the community will get behind any new measures introduced by Government with these aims in mind.

The ESG visited the new Power Station this week and followed up on a number of issues of interest. These included real time monitoring, onshore power provision, the projected full commissioning date for the new Power Station, the issue of skid generators, and more. A separate statement will be released soon.

Additionally the group has been holding a series of meetings with the Transport Ministry and new Minister highlighting our concerns on traffic issues; in particular about Gibraltar’s need to take on the bigger challenges associated with reducing traffic volume on our streets, encouraging cleaner and alternate modes of transport and tackling pollution as an urgent public health issue.

For details on our aims in this important topic please visit our website at esg-gib.net – for our 2019 List of Objectives.

The ESG was especially interested to observe the recent cross border technical meetings which took place in Algeciras. This was the start of the MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) regarding many issues post Brexit. Our interest is in cross border environmental management and response where we have taken up issues at EU level for the past 2 decades. The absence of this regulatory framework seriously troubles us and we are following developments closely to ensure the issues we have long campaigned on regarding the heavy chemical industries in the Campo area, as well as border sewage contamination from La Linea.

Today, Climate Change is  being eclipsed by the coronavirus. It is incredible how life can change so quickly. However we continue to request publication of Governments Action plans on Climate Change and will keep up our focus on the environment whilst at the same time sincerely hoping that the best case scenario will prevail over the current global viral outbreak.

Lets hope we can get back to the urgent issue of the day to make our planet a safer, cleaner and healthier place for us all – climate change will not wait.