Today we wanted to refer to a number of recent developments of particular interest to us.

For instance many will be familiar with the Litter Campaign we run called Clean up the World. Also involving many of our schools, this campaign attracts the young and old to take actions that will benefit our environment and hometown. CUTW reports have been produced and follow up begins as we continue to highlight ongoing issues and campaign targets going forward.

With COP27 barely round the corner we admit to being stunned at the news of the major project envisaged as part of the new FIFA Football Stadium.  Leaving the economic argument aside – which has already had quite some airing – we are concerned and interested to know how this large football stadium and associated economic generating infrastructure will meet our Climate Targets already set out? The last project approved by DPC was for smaller capacity and included solar energy among other green features. Climate change should be defining all our major activity and demands this project reaches highest possible energy saving, and lowest possible carbon footprint. We will be monitoring this project closely.

The ESG believes development is moving too fast and not allowing our creaking infrastructure to match this pace. Plans have been filed to increase sewage capacity for the Eastside Project. But what of the rest of the town? It is time the Sewage treatment project is launched and other waste facilities also brought up to speed!!

Moving on to Rosia Bay and the recent official notice released by Government. The ESG, GONHS, NAUTILUS Project and HERITAGE TRUST have jointly issued a statement welcoming this notice, which is looking at a more holistic approach. The Statement said the groups take further encouragement that the invitation does not refer to residential development, which is a very firm red line, as would be any building of significant massing at the site – including on the platform – that obscures the historic monuments at the site.

Please make a note for the next DPC mtg taking place on the 15^th December, which will be the last one for 2022. The ESG would like to see us revert to physical meetings, live streamed, allowing the community to be present and giving a higher profile to decisions, which, after all, affect us all as we continue to develop at the pace we do today.

Thanks for listening and go to esg-gib.net for more statements and information on issues we follow.

The GONHS, ESG, Gibraltar Heritage Trust and Nautilus Project welcome the Expressions of Interest notice for Rosia Bay that was issued by HMGoG last Friday 18^th November.

It is encouraging to note that the approach is now a holistic one that includes the AHQ building as well as Rosia Bay and the Rosia Mole as a public leisure facility. We take further encouragement that the invitation does not refer to residential development, which is a very firm red line for us, as would be any building of significant massing at the site – including on the platform – that obscures the historic monuments at the site.

We must however note some concern and reservation that the notice given for submission of any Expressions of Interest is only 2 weeks, which may not be sufficient time for well thought through and feasible proposals. The Government should consider extending this period to allow more time for high quality proposals.

With COP27 underway in Egypt, it seems only yesterday that COP26 took place in Glasgow with plenty of fanfare. Though far from perfect, a number of commitments were made by world leaders to take meaningful action to reduce carbon emissions and support those most affected by climate impacts today. These commitments are now under scrutiny in Egypt.

It is hoped that the UK’s Climate programme will see renewed vigour after Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, publicly committed to remain resolved in staying on course to meet its own targets. So far, however, pledges have not been met with necessary, tangible actions, and seen decisions taken recently on fossil fuel production that have also thrown doubt on such commitments.

We know that our own Climate Strategy, published during last years COP26, has provided some traction within Govt to prepare for targets that must be met here in Gibraltar. However we do not know exactly what will be met within targets, what is delayed, and if so, by how long.

The ESG believes the community should be kept informed of the progress or otherwise that has been made in meeting Gibraltar’s Climate Strategy Targets and how the Climate Change Committee is helping drive these goals. This type of audit, or checklist should be in the public domain if the strategy is to succeed. Reducing carbon emissions in Gibraltar will also result in cleaner air and a healthier environment so of clear public interest.

Global economy, the war in Ukraine, energy crisis and more are creating multiple and immediate challenges to policy makers and world leaders. The climate emergency, however, is already leading to catastrophic developments for some countries and nipping at the heels of many others and should firmly remain a major priority for all.

Gibraltar is on its own complex journey, no less so at present, but, as we are often told, climate woes present opportunities for a green revolution and application of best available technology that we hope Gibraltar will embrace going forward.

ESG Radio Newsletter 3^rd November 2022

With COP27 launching in Egypt next weekend it really does seem only weeks since the last and much heralded COP26 took place in Glasgow. Then, much fanfare was made of the commitments from world leaders to meaningfully reduce their countries carbon emissions. The British Government had also published an Environment Bill, or Act, just ahead of COP26, setting out enforceable targets to be met by COP27 – the aim was for one target to be set in each priority area per year, which were:  Air, Water, Biodiversity and Waste Reduction. In the past few days the UK Government released a statement on how they were not able to meet this first deadline, not blaming Brexit, or politics, Ukraine or the energy crisis – instead, they blamed the massive public feedback received to the original Environment Bill consultation rounds, as reasons why no targets had been reached? This is quite bizarre.

Sadly the robust front delivered by, yes, Boris Johnson, and his colleague and President of COP26, Alok Sharma, last year in Glasgow, has got lost amidst the goings on in the UK parliament, together with the economy, energy, inflation, etc. With the new Prime Minister finally agreeing to attend the Egypt COP27 after all, let us hope he returns inspired and focused to back the plans already in place to push UK towards a greener future. It’s critical that he will do that.

Looking closer to home we know our Climate Strategy, published during last years COP, has helped foster some traction within Govt circles to prepare for targets to be met here in Gibraltar. However we do not know exactly what will be met within targets, what will be delayed, or by how long. As with the UK we think the Gibraltar Government should explain and inform the community of the efforts they are making towards significantly reducing our carbon emissions, of course, including from shipping and foreign vehicle fuel sales. These measures will also improve our physical environment and make Gibraltar a better and healthier place to live.

We understand that humans are living in a time of contradiction and that we have to balance growth with the ability of our planet to maintain a stable environment. It fills many of us with dismay as we see the energy crisis unfold leading to the reversal of critical policies. These changes, however, will last a long time and lead us into ever more extreme climate behaviour just at a time when we know there is a limited time to cut our emissions.

Let’s start talking/shouting/sharing thoughts and concerns about climate change  – it is an emergency – lets hear from our political leaders too with their thoughts on such a BIG issue of the day!!

COP27 6^th to the 18^th November