An end of year round up from us as we face a somewhat uncertain future with the imminent departure from the EU round the corner.

Apart from border fluidity and economic concerns we also have setbacks for the environment as we will no longer have EU institutions to fall back on regarding regional and cross border environmental impacts.

The ESG, together with NGOs from Gibraltar and Spain, have over the years filed a number of Complaints to the European Commission on breaches of environmental regulations and standards, principally down to the rapid growth and expansion of the petrochemical complex and Oil Refinery in the Campo area and excesses of harmful air pollution .

We understand our Government has tabled several concerns on the environmental front with its UK counterparts and we have submitted information on issues that, from our perspective, will stand to worsen without European oversight on matters of cross border pollution.

The ESG will monitor the situation and is also in close contact with our colleagues across the border. By the time we do our next radio newsletter we may certainly know the type of Brexit, and depth of changes we will experience after the 31^st December.

As we have stressed in lengthy articles and interviews published recently, in local media, October’s OTWO, and INSIGHT magazine in December, we realise that Covid, on top of Brexit, is clearly and understandably occupying the minds of our leaders and so have had to accept that deliverance of some large projects will have taken a back seat.

Nonetheless we shall resume our lobbying at the start of 2021 to ensure that Gibraltar continues to focus on climate targets, significant traffic changes, intensifies its roll-out of renewable energy programme, improves impacts from shipping and produces a draft development plan for public feedback to enable the community to both influence and understand the trajectory for development in Gibraltar from an ‘official’ standpoint. Clearly adequate infrastructure, energy, waste management and sewage treatment must accompany our ever-growing built environment– we should not continue to build without such support and foundation that makes us more sustainable.

You can find more info on these matters and press releases on our website www.esg-gib.net including the welcoming of the new Post Office Electric Fleet.

A reminder that the final 2020 DPC mtg takes place on the 17^th December at 9.30am. These meetings are public and live streamed and you can find the link at DPC Gibraltar, Agendas, with the 17^th December meeting already carrying the link.
Have yourselves a safe, green and peaceful Christmas.

Best wishes from all at the ESG.

The ESG is concerned about major changes facing the environment as we finally go through the process of exiting Europe on the 31^st December 2020. In the run up to this significant date the group has submitted feedback to Government in the hope that some of our concerns will have featured in official discussions with both UK and Spanish counterparts.

The ESG has embraced EU institutions for a considerable number of years to ensure that significant industrial activity in the Bay is monitored and regulatory compliance enforced to protect people and the environment.

This is especially crucial because the Bay hosts one of the largest Oil refineries in Spain which historically has operated to shocking standards and created health risks for all bay inhabitants. With the assistance of the EU, our MEPs and cross border public pressure, we have seen tangible changes and some significant improvements.

The major reclamation Project announced to be carried out to expand the Algeciras Port area by 2030 is another serious issue. Such projects have regional impacts and demand that cross border Environmental Impact Assessments are carried out.  This assessment would investigate impacts on the marine environment as well as changes to hydrology.  We should remember the damages suffered in Gibraltar after the last significant reclamation by Algeciras Port when a major storm overwhelmed much of our coastal infrastructure.

The ESG will be taking up this matter with its colleagues across the border.

The group hopes, going forward, that our regional environment will see improved cross border management and protection on a technical level and will lend every assistance to help make it so, despite the obvious challenges ahead.

Please visit website: www.esg-gib.net  List of Objectives 2019 – section 7 for Cross Border concerns

Visit:- https://www.gbc.gi/tv/programmes/between-us-1039/episode/episode-10-janet-howitt-7861

for a look back to a number of major campaigns taken on by the ESG.

Starting with a damaged Nuclear Submarine – HMS Tireless – seeking repairs on the Rock, which launched the ESG, to the highly polluting CEPSA Oil Refinery, across the border.

Clean up the World also features as a hands on community campaign itself now in its 16th year.