News of yet another oil spill of heavy fuel oil is just what no one wanted to hear given the recent and successful departure of the OS35 – although even this vessel may still return to the Rock due to bad weather.

While details are still emerging it appears the spill came from a ship receiving bunker. It was an accident that should not have happened, given it was during a normal procedure, and the ESG asks why the spill occurred and what level of oversight was in place at the time. Given ship-to-ship bunkering is conducted 24/7 this rings alarm bells for all checks to be reviewed.

The thick, heavy fuel oil stated by the Port to have been released into our marine environment is toxic and will not evaporate – it will affect marine and bird life and will impact the coastline wherever it lands.

Indeed we have seen 3 beaches closed today: Rosia, Camp and Little Bay. In the peak of our summer any beach closure will also cause much frustration to our citizens given the searing temperatures we have at present.

That the polluter must pay for ecological damage goes without saying but the ESG would like to see an investigation into this oil spill and awaits further information on the scale and volume of heavy fuel oil released.

The ESG has been calling for our bunkering trade to diversify away from fossil fuels given the very high carbon emissions attributable to Gibraltar from this practice. However, it is also the air and noise pollution, as well as environmental impacts from oil spills, which also concerns the group.

Once again the Bluefin Tuna Fishing Season has opened in Gibraltar. Sadly, as per every year, the quota also continues to rise.

The ESG continues to oppose the practice of sport fishing of such an important marine species previously endangered, now ‘in recovery’, or other status, depending on the source of information. 

It was an important moment for the ESG to meet with Tony Juniper at the Aspire Conference, a major trailblazer for the environment for decades, and an inspiration for action.

In his Chronicle interview it was heartening to hear his recommendations to Gibraltar as to the need to diversify from our trade in fossil fuels for bunkering of ships and other vehicle fuel sales. This trade accounts for approximately 90% of our overall GHG emissions total.

This is a big issue for the group that has campaigned for years to see this major greenhouse house contributor feature far more prominently on our climate target aspirations.

“Overall, his reflections and comments were spot on”, says a spokesperson for the ESG,  “and we hope he will continue to visit Gibraltar and hopefully see us rise to the challenges laid before us.”

The ESG congratulates the Department of the Environment as organisers of the Aspire Conference, for a very well run and thought-provoking event.

Dynamic opening speeches from DCM Dr Joseph Garcia and Friends of the Earth ex Director, Tony Juniper, set the tone for the event with the latter calling for action and need for a revolution to address the climate emergency we are so clearly facing.

Focusing on sustainable development, some of the points made during the day include:

– large scale Government intervention required

–  robust response from industry and business needed,

–  community engagement

–  integrated development to encourage community friendly environment

–  adoption of simple and well tried measures to increase sustainability from scratch

–  exploration of all possible benefits of electrical solutions

–  the urgent need to foster a circular based economy that promotes reuse and recycling of unwanted or broken waste to reduce the reckless demand for our worlds dwindling resources

All with immediate effect and all measures supported by the ESG.

It was made clear by a number of speakers that the earlier sustainable practices are introduced in a construction project, the more financially viable they become. In the same way, buildings need to be prepared so their green credentials, once operational, can be efficiently measured.

The importance of radical change in development where most of the building is constructed offsite was another crucial point made. This method can reduce CO2 by up to 80% as well as reduce local impacts and pollution. Building ‘adaptable structures’ that can respond to different needs over time was a case very well made too. A strong message made, which we have failed to follow here in Gibraltar, is that:

“ the greenest building is the one we already have..”

• Those at the conference were clearly inspired by the many excellent speakers but, unless the Government, together with industry, rise to the challenge of the climate emergency, the conference will have failed in its aspirations, and this would be a disaster for the future. The group urges a greater commitment for greener and strategic construction from all in the sector and will lend its support wherever possible.

The ESG welcomes the recent developments from Government in taking meaningful steps to address issues important to the group.

It is positive news to learn of the ‘Aspire’ conference being held to focus and inform towards greener building standards and practices given that development and construction carry such major environmental impacts.

The publication of additional legislation via the new Environment Bill to commit Gibraltar to greater environmental compliance is also welcomed, but the group will be seeking information from Government on how this will work in practice over and above the many layers of existing environmental legislation in place today, not least, the immense challenge of meeting our Climate Change Strategy targets.

The ESG draws attention to World Earth Day celebrated tomorrow the 22^nd of April 2023. Fortunately these annual, global dates alone are no longer the only drivers for environmental action today but they do highlight the immense challenges ahead.

Halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 still remains the goal to preserve a liveable planet with net zero emissions to follow by 2050. That’s just 7 and 27 years away…literally a blink of an eye. The ESG will continue to press for greater and more visible action to be taken by all levels of society with Government clearly needed to set the agenda for action and priority.

More locally we also face the ongoing works to remove the OS35 vessel from our coastline. Even today, teams organised by the Department of the Environment have been removing tar balls from Sandy and Little Bay. We commend their monitoring and clean up but regret this ongoing oil pollution even running through to World Earth Day itself. The group notes that all beaches will be open to the public barring Little Bay, that will be partially closed, as works there continue. The ESG shares the widely held view that the removal of this vessel cannot come too soon.

On a more positive note it highlights another clean up led by The Nautilus Project on Sunday 23^rd April to mark World Earth Day from 11.30 to 1pm at Rosia Bay welcoming all volunteers.

“The ESG was very concerned to see the oil spill from OS35 hit our shores last week. Conditions made it difficult to gauge the scale of the problem.

 However the number of cleaning teams involved from the early stages ensured the worst of the oil was removed quite quickly and was prevented from being washed back out to sea. 

The ESG also monitored the oil afflicted areas in efforts to support the clean up underway and thanks the Dept of the Environment for frequent updates of the progress made as well as its own standby team of volunteers.

The group will wait for an official assessment of the overall damage to our coastline, as calmer weather will permit a more thorough inspection to be carried out.

The Gibraltar coastline is very much part of our social fabric as well as a natural environment and is clearly ecologically important as well as a matter of public interest. 

The group remains concerned that further oil spills could occur and sincerely hopes that every effort is made for the removal of the wreck  before any more is released.”

See following article by Gibraltar Chronicle:

The ESG has seen media announcements regarding financing for the Eastside development.

The group would like to take this opportunity to raise a few important issues regarding this major development in the hope that more information will soon be shared with the community.

At a key DPC meeting last year, where outline planning permission was granted for the land and marina projects, the general understanding was that concerns made over environmental impacts had been heard.  Recommendations were made that ongoing monitoring would be required over the lengthy period of time of construction – (some 10 years cited) to ensure that EIA outcomes, currently predicting no real impact on the marine environment, or water quality, were in fact, accurate. The ESG believes there are grounds for some of the concerns raised that requires further analysis.

Additionally there was broad support for the reduction of small boat berths to half (200) of what was planned (400), and discussion on whether this would lead to reconfiguration of the marina, reduction in size, etc. The group asks whether plans are being revised or not.

The ESG notes that each step of the development will see specific plans, materials and information presented to the DPC.  Notwithstanding, it believes that projects of such a transformational nature, changing the face of the Caleta area forever, should see additional promotion and public outreach outside of the planning process itself, by way of public exhibitions and models. This would enable dialogue and a fuller appreciation of the project vision, and hear concerns and questions from the community. This request was raised and responded to positively by TNG at the DPC meeting.

The group hopes to hear of such steps being taken soon.

ESG Radio Newsletter 16^th February

Topics:  Upcoming DPC meetings: Rooke, Mount, Devil’s Tower 29 storey, Active Travel Strategy and more….

Hello- Once again development projects dominate the environmental agenda with DPC meeting next Thursday 23^rd at 9.30am and we can expect a busy session. We advise you to log on to the YouTube link posted on the Town Planning website under DPC, agendas for details, as you will only be able to follow proceedings live. There are no recordings available, nor physical meetings taking place, something we continue to regret and call for.

So if any of the following issues interest you be sure to look at plans available online beforehand and join the session being streamed that morning. A very large proposal for Devil’s Tower Road, in fact 1 of 2, is being tabled after having been deferred previously due to height and massing. Government’s Active Travel Strategy is also on the agenda for general discussion as well as one area being signalled separately with more detail supplied.  The ESG has broadly welcomed this while calling for a number of measures such as timeframes and budget, parallel action to reduce vehicle numbers, expansion of a clean emission public transport service removing out-dated and polluting buses from our roads, and, promoting the use of park and ride.

The Mount comes up with details and designs on a number of new public amenities.  Arengo’s, Governor’s Parade, Chilton Court and Eastern Beach Car Park are also on the agenda. Be sure to tune in!! That’s the 23^rd February at 9.30am.

The need for a fresh and holistic development plan for Gibraltar is desperately needed in our view.

With a much welcomed resumption of Litter Committee meetings the ESG is pleased to report that the Clean up Campaign has seen significant movement on the part of agencies and cleaning contractor to tackle a few ongoing and challenging hotspots. However, works continue and preventative measures and enforcement must also play their part. The dumping, especially of rubble and bulky items continues to take place in open spaces highlighting the urgent need for a fit for purpose waste handling facility.  The ESG continues to monitor such problem sites and supports spot clean ups by volunteers with equipment and advice throughout the year.

2023 is already a busy year for many, not least for us and we continue to work on many other fronts lobbying for best practice and precautionary principle to be core to decision making in all areas.

Please email us with any queries or concerns at esg@gibtelecom.net

Also visit our website at: www.esg-gib.net for more information.

The ESG broadly supports the ‘Active Travel Strategy’ as a measure to encourage healthier travel like walking and cycling around our small town, as it also supports the measure to introduce signage with advice on distances to various locations, thereby encouraging both locals and visitors to leave their vehicles parked up.

However, the group believes that without a time frame and confirmation of resources available, the Active Travel Strategy is meaningless.

Moreover, if the proposed strategies are to be successful, a series of other measures must be introduced.

– enforcement against idling everywhere, but particularly outside schools and crowded areas, is essential to improve air quality and protect public health.

– pavement maintenance and provision should be reviewed to encourage safe walking.

– effective Park & Ride measures enabling visitors to park close to the border would also be a huge boost to the success of the active travel strategy.

– replacing public (and private) transport with clean emission vehicles is also urgently needed.

– changing local laws on emissions based on year of manufacture, which essentially allows old vehicles to pollute with impunity. Current legislation has moved on because of the proven harmful health effects of such dirty emissions.

– action on noise pollution from cars and motorbikes.

– action on dangerous driving from vehicles and motorbikes.

– cycle code of behaviour to be promoted with penalties for cyclists also in place.

– enforcement and promotion of the new regulations for use of EScooters in Gibraltar.

The ESG hopes Government gives these recommendations urgent traction to ensure measures like the “Active Travel Strategy” and future aspirations can reach their full potential. The group will also be appealing to the RGP to support the active enforcement of these measures once introduced, as they have done with the EScooters, to ensure their success to all our benefit.”