The Labour Party states that it is committed to all issues relating to the environment and projects itself, as a responsible and environmentally caring party within a sustainable development framework.

The Labour Party Candidates responded by signing separately a 4-page detailed policy document outlining their concerns and strategies :-

• Introduction of an Environmental Charter


• Reinvigorating the Environmental Agency to address regional as well as local environment priorities and provide a state of the art service to the community


• Establishment of an Environmental Advisory Council comprised of local experts and associations. The Council will advise Government and make recommendations on environmental issues and these will be made public


• Legislation to provide support at House of Assembly level


• A better quality of life in Gibraltar


• Improving and enhancing the environment for wildlife


• Clean air


• A greener Gibraltar for all


• Waste management and sustainable use of natural resources


• Climate Change

1. Introduction

The Labour Party values a rich, healthy and diverse environment for present and future generations; we want Gibraltarians to have peace of mind, knowing that they live in a safe environment, rich in wildlife and natural diversity. An environment which Gibraltarians can enjoy and feel motivated to care for.

When elected into Government, Labour is committed to the introduction of an Environmental Charter which commits Government to:-

• Promoting an environmental culture in Gibraltar by recognising environmental achievements as one of our core values.


• Adopting a proactive rather than reactive approach to all activities regarding the environment.


• Endeavouring to introduce relevant legislation, best practices and standards on all environmental related issues, and ensuring strict enforcement and compliance with these.


• Optimising the use renewable energy to reduce noise pollution and improve air quality


• Encouraging best waste management practices such as re-use, reduction and recycling.


• Acting responsibly towards the environment by committing Government to sustainable development for the benefit of our society.

2. Implementation

Labour will introduce agile and timely mechanisms for the implementation of our Environmental Charter policies and commitments by focusing on:-

2.1 A better quality of life in Gibraltar

Quality of life in Gibraltar is fundamentally dependent upon the quality of the environment in which we live. The environmental outcomes Labour will strive to achieve will contribute to a better quality of life in Gibraltar.

Gibraltarians' experience of the environment and our quality of life will be enhanced as the results of our actions, working in close cooperation with industry, commerce and the general public.

Labour will promote enhanced environment for wildlife; cleaner air for everyone; protected coastal waters; greener businesses and sustainable development. In addition Labour will develop a strategy to limit the effects of and adapt to climate change.

Labour will mount and sustain an environmental awareness campaign to enhance people's experience of the environment and the importance of protecting it, enabling everyone to make more positive choices for the environment in their own daily activities. This will include the introduction of open working practices and activities with partners (industry, NGOs, associations and the general public) in a consultative, transparent and stakeholder centred manner.

2.2 Improving and enhancing the environment for wildlife

Labour will ensure that wildlife will thrive and habitats will be improved and extended in Gibraltar, by ensuring that we all understand the importance of protecting our wildlife and its habitats.

By working closely with environmental and ornithological NGOs, Labour will establish a Biodiversity Action Plan to secure the continuation of biodiversity, with special emphasis on species in danger of extinction. This will include the improvement of habitats for wildlife, the reforestation of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve and other sites of special scientific interest.

We will improve marine habitats through the introduction of Marine Habitats Acton Plans, and ensure that adequate legislation is in place and vigorously enforced to protect our water from illegal fishing. Labour is also committed to the strict monitoring and control of pollutants discharged into our waters.

2.3 Clean Air

Labour is determined that Gibraltarians enjoy cleaner and healthier air, by ensuring that the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere are reduced below the level at which they can do significant harm.

We will work together with all government departments, industry, NGOs, the general public and interested stakeholders, to make significant improvements in air quality in Gibraltar, by implementing a Gibraltar Air Quality Strategy. This strategy will regulate and monitor emissions to air, according to their impact on the environment and their effect on people's health, flora and fauna.

Labour is further committed to the relocation of heavy industries to industrial parks away from densely populated areas. These industries and those that cannot be re-located, will be forced to comply with current legislation and best practices to improve the quality of life in Gibraltar, thus reducing the number of days per year of high air pollution.

We will work closely with the news media and public information services to ensure that the public has easy access to air quality information in a timely and user-friendly fashion.

2.4 A greener Gibraltar for all

Labour will introduce systems, schemes and initiatives to ensure that environmental concerns are central to business thinking and operations in Gibraltar. Ensuring that industries and business, recognise and respect the values of operating within a rich and diverse natural environment, whilst reaping the benefits of sustainable practices.

We will require businesses and industries to produce Environmental Impact Assessments for certain range of activities, and companies wishing to be included in the Government's List of Approved Contractors, will be required to submit for validation their Environmental Policy Statement. This together with their Health and Safety Policy Statement, will be a contributing factor for inclusion into the list.

Labour is committed to the commissioning of an expert report to examine the possibility of changes to company law in Gibraltar to introduce environmental responsibility clauses.

2.5 Waste Management and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Labour will strive to ensure proper policies and procedures are introduced to ensure that everyone in Gibraltar takes responsibility for minimising waste, which we increasly see as a resource. Re-use and recycling of materials and energy efficiency will become the norm in Gibraltar under a Labour Government, with special emphasis made on the wise use of water by everyone.

We will work together will all interested parties for a reduction in household waste, by targeted campaigns and monitoring and by establishing Gibraltar wide waste management strategies.

Labour will embark on an aggressive programme of recycling, with educational programmes introduced at all level of the school curriculum and the necessary infrastructure in place to secure a complete "recycling loop".

2.6 Climate Change

Labour is committed to introducing campaigns to raise awareness on climate change. We want to see the public, industries, commerce and all interested parties taking account and prepared for probable changes to our climate and participating in practices which will have a direct effect in the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

We will engage professional expert advice to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from processes in Gibraltar, with the least possible impact on businesses. We will set targets for renewable energy, and encourage and support business initiatives that support these targets.

Labour will assess potential future impact of climate change and provide appropriate precautionary strategies.

2.7 Reinvigorating the Environmental Agency and Establishment of an Environmental Advisory Council

Labour is committed to the establishment of a new and independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in which the Government is not immune from prosecution or compliance with environmental legislation and directives.

This new EPA will be properly staffed and resourced, with modern equipment and procedures to provide a state of the art service to the community. This new agency will beset up by local professionals in the field and Gibraltarian consultants with international exposure, experience and track record on environmental issues.

One of the new agency's priorities will be to establish monitoring, early warning and response systems for possible toxic releases affecting Gibraltar from neighbouring industries in the Campo Area and marine traffic in the Bay of Gibraltar. This agency will also be shaped in a phased and progressive fashion to ensure new imperatives and priority environmental outcomes.

This agency will operate on an 'open door' policy, with no hidden agenda's, and with high levels of transparency, accountability and responsibility to the public it serves.

Labour is also committed to the establishment an Environmental Advisory Council, comprised of local experts and associations to advise the Government on environmental issues. The aim is to be proactive and not reactive in the protection of our environment.

The Environmental Advisory Council will be chaired by the Minister responsible for the Environment and will have powers to make recommendations, which in the interest of transparency and accountability will be made public. We will introduce legislation ensuring that if those recommendations are not accepted, they will have to be debated in the House of Assembly.

This Advisory Council will assist and work closely with Government and all interested parties in the production of a comprehensive Environmental Strategy for Gibraltar to ensure that there is proper environmental planning with specific targets, measurable outputs and performance indicators.