Hello, this is our first newsletter of 2023!

Today we look ahead at what will surely prove to be a highly important year with elections, the economy, peace and climate change dominating headlines around the world.

In 2023 we will again push for the New Development Plan that can still have some influence surely on unstoppable development, which, we are told, is so evidently vital to our economic stability. Holistic planning is paramount as well as street level design and guidance so incoming developers know what the Plan expects them to build and not just simply what class of building it needs to meet. Much greater care has to be given to existing buildings and residents – with an eye on reducing impacts on Climate Change as boldly as possible. We will continue to press for these objectives. Look out for next DPC mtg next Thursday the 19th, also first of the year as from 9.30am, live streamed on youtube via the Town Planning links.

We would like to see our Transport Situation given a major push this year to reduce and control motorised traffic on our roads. The noise and air pollution one encounters when walking or cycling can be really objectionable and lets face it, not great for our health. Lets hope that parties competing for power during the elections will develop practical and effective plans to eliminate pollution from our roads as well as encourage healthy forms of getting about. We shall continue to lobby for this as well as for removal of older vehicles and second hand buses and for controls on idling among other measures.

We live in a glorious part of the World. So it was very sad to witness the days of heavy pollution from the neighbouring CEPSA Oil Refinery and associated industry first on New Years day, and then, some 10 days later. This kind of pollution is totally out of place in a world where technology is moving in leaps and bounds for alternative clean and sustainable methods in production resulting in safe environments. The ESG is following up at various levels to seek support for accountability on these major, cross border polluting incidences.

Look out for the expected noise pollution to start from tonight in the South District for the next week resulting from the removal and transportation of over 200 containers bound for Rooke housing project. While warned to expect this noise it remains to be seen if this will be tolerable OR whether some other way of proceeding will need to be found.

Meetings with the Ministry for the Environment have started with constructive discussions we shall be following up on. Clean up the World matters have also seen energy invested to rectify some long-term issues. We are grateful to those who are responding that will result in a cleaner and healthier Gibraltar and to our volunteer partners who keep in touch throughout the year reporting litter related problems.

The ESG will publish their latest Objectives for consideration in this Election year before the end of January. We will be include our thoughts on Gibraltar’s Climate Strategy outlining the need for urgency and cross party approach, led from the top.

Please refer to our website at www.esg-gib.net  for all our press statements and other links.

Thanks for listening and best wishes to all for a healthy New Year.

ESG Statement reFire at Petrochemical Plant – Indorama factory in San Roque

“ Yet another fire at a petrochemical plant in San Roque this morning greeted in the New year. While the emergency response was swift, the ESG is most concerned about the widespread nature of the vast plumes of toxic smoke that escaped the plant and blew, this time, over Algeciras town and many residential areas. The ESG challenges the claim by Spanish Authorities that the thick smoke, while odorous, is not toxic. 

Swallowing or inhaling hydrocarbons (released by such fires) can cause lung irritation, with coughing, choking, shortness of breath, and neurological problems. Severe symptoms can be produced if inhaled in quantity. The advice of closing windows, as the only health advice given by the authorities, is wholly inadequate and citizens should be guided to report to their hospitals with any symptoms. 

This latest accident highlights the dangers of siting chemical industries in a densely populated Bay and the cause and safety procedures must be urgently reviewed.
Algeciras bore the brunt today, but, next time, who knows where the winds may blow. The ESG calls upon Government to follow up on the Spanish reports to ensure that highest standards follow in the handling of these combustible products stored mere kilometres away from Gibraltar.”

This broadcast will mark the end of 2022 and what a year it has been for many of us. Among the highs and lows comes perhaps the most important of all, looking after our nest, homeland and planet without which we would not be able to enjoy much, let alone our families, or any new possession or gift to be shared during the coming weeks.

The world is seeing so much chaos and disruption, suffering and hardship that it is also hard for many of us to fully relax and enjoy the moment but hopefully we will be able to treat ourselves to a few days of just that without the cloud of Covid that has separated so many of us during the past few Christmases.

Back to the environment –The ESG continues to focus on many issues we have campaigned on since we started in the year 2000. There was no environmental agenda let alone policy and Gibraltar really needed to catch up badly. Clearly much progress has been made and conservationists and environmentalists who follow the issues very closely know just how much ground has been covered.

Of course our unique circumstances, population size and land footprint is always going to affect just how quickly and precisely by how much we can achieve some of the trickier targets necessary. What’s clear is we need to do this as a community and aim for achieving the best possible environment we can. We don’t think we are always getting it right, or in the right order or fast enough. We shall continue to press for these aims especially where it comes to environmental safety, pollution and climate change.

Since 2003 the ESG has published a Wish list that covers our interest and concerns with local, regional and global environmental issues. Looking ahead to the next local elections we are currently putting together our current objectives that will reflect issues as we see them and what we believe should be done to address these. Some are more obvious than others. Our wish list has helped inform our community for years and we hope, depoliticise environmental issues to a more factual base for action. We will campaign with all parties standing for election going forward and will also be publishing our current document on our website with links on social media etc.

We would like to thank the public for their longstanding support. Also to our volunteers and sponsors who each year engage with us on important community wide projects. We take heart too on the growing awareness and activism on environmental protection and appreciation in our community today in many sectors.

ESG wishes all a peaceful and joyous Christmas and a healthy and hopeful Green New year.

Website: esg-gib.net for more information.

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

ESG Radio Broadcast 13^th October 2022  

Key topics:  Follow up activity post Clean up/ Seven Sisters and ongoing oil concerns/ / Development & Planning Meeting / Climate Change and need for far greater prominence

Hi! There is much to cover today in a short space of time so here goes!!

Many of you will remember the inspiring and energised Clean up which took place less than a month ago. A real shake up as always:  a focus on hotspots, forgotten areas, right in your face areas and much more. The Gibraltar wide action involving volunteers of all ages – with many schools involved – encourages civic pride and raises awareness on the importance of looking after your home town and natural environment. It’s a fantastic initiative the ESG has been proud to coordinate for 18 years to date. We now continue with post action reports, lobbying for improvements, presentations, discussions and more.

Of course the clean up efforts did not end with the main event on the Saturday. Just a week after the clean up at Seven Sisters, we again organised some volunteers to help with the heavy oil pollution, which landed on this special shoreline – a thriving marine reserve. A shattering experience for nature lovers, given the impact this tarry substance has on the living environment. So began an intense and urgent battle to rescue the reserve from the shocking pollution to leak from the stricken vessel OS 35. This Saturday marks 3 weeks and work continues.

Once again we must thank our volunteers who have been on standby from the start and have actively responded on 3 occasions to help the Dept of the Env and GJBS who daily tackle this contamination. It is no picnic and we thank those working round the clock to free Seven Sisters of the oil as quickly as possible.

The ESG welcomes the details publicly provided by the Captain of the Port on the plans for the complete removal of OS 35 – something we also asked for publicly. Like others we remain concerned however about the wrecks stability during the harsher winter months and any remaining oil on board which could still threaten our marine environment – we continue to be on standby should our volunteers be needed.

A reminder that the DPC meet next Thursday 20^th of October to discuss another round of planning applications. You can access live streaming of the meeting by going to : Town Planning Website and clicking on  DPC meetings.

Next time we look at Climate Change and Gibraltar’s Strategy and the need for far greater prominence of this critical objective.

Go to website: esg-gib.net   for more info on other issues.

Thanks for listening.

Check out Chronicle link which carries pics of all teams and supporters:-

Close to 500 volunteers ‘Clean Up the World’ in Gibraltar

The ESG thanks all volunteers, logistics support, sponsors and our key steering team for a successful and effective Clean up the World 2022.  The energy and determination displayed by volunteers during their Gibraltar-wide action was truly inspiring. Harmful waste was removed, issues were highlighted and lessons learnt with efforts now underway to ensure these are put to good use.

Thanks go to:

888.com

Backing the Planet

Bassadone

Bayside School

Bishop Fitzgerald School

Britannia Abseiling & Crane team

Department of the Environment

Dolphin Youth Club

ESG

For the Love of Cats

Gibraltar College

Gibraltar Heritage Trust

Lazer Tag

Laguna & Glacis Youth Clubs

Laguna Tenants Association

Martinez & Friends

MH Bland

Morrison’s

Muscat & Friends

Scouts 3^rd Europa Cubs

Prior Park

PWC

Rotary International Club

J Safra Sarasin

St Anne’s School

St Joseph’s School

The Nautilus Project

University of Gibraltar

Westside School

Youth Service

Additional logistic support from :

CUTW Base team

ESG Truck support

Britannia Truck support

Toyota Gibraltar/Bassadone vehicles supply.

Monteverde Waste Transfer Team

Imossi Boat team

Dept of the Environment

Gibraltar Government

GibDock

Sponsors:

Thanks to the Turicum Private Bank, The Open Day Trust, 888.com and Bassadone for donations towards the campaign and to Britannia for a supply of bags.

Thanks to our community once again for giving the campaign the oxygen it needs to keep it alive every year!

Sincerely,

ESG

Mere days after our volunteers for Clean up the World removed large amounts of plastics and other non-organic waste from Seven Sisters shoreline its southern section got plastered in thick tarry oil from OS 35. This is very bad news for the area, which is a thriving ecosystem and Marine Reserve. It’s an area where fishing is forbidden and many can enjoy the rich marine life present via the Thinking Green underwater camera situated here.

While warnings had been issued regarding the potential for such pollution from the OS 35 to still occur, it was nevertheless shocking to witness Seven Sisters heavily tarred in this way.

The Department for the Environment has set up cleaning operations at the site with NGOs ESG and The Nautilus Project assisting with initial action. Garbed up, the enormity of the task was soon evident, as the thick, black oil on the rocky southern shore was very time consuming to remove and labour intensive. Mopping up with pads was the method advised. The clean up started.

It was very sad to see the impacts on the species that live in this intertidal zone with volunteers coming across many affected by the oil. ESG understands that a survey is underway by the department.

The ESG spokesperson said, “We have coordinated annual clean ups here since 2008 clearing historic fly tipping to annual removal of plastics and other waste that arrives by sea. “It’s a difficult area to access and the campaign has made the project possible with support and goodwill from various agencies and individuals. We are proud of the impact we have made to help keep this special area free from harmful waste. We were informed that our clean up last week enabled the current situation to focus on the oil without having first to remove what could have been sack-loads of oil contaminated plastics and other waste.” 

“However, this oil spill,” they add, “ is shocking, unprecedented in our experience, and way beyond our abilities.  It’s critical that all resources are provided to the frontline teams to remove the damaging oil from this special area, rich in marine life as fast as possible. A final toll of true impacts to the environment should be published. We just hope that no more leaks of this type will recur. It is imperative that the final stages in salvaging the vessel is within sight and that we see an end to the continuous pollution.”

Contractors are now based at Seven Sisters hoping to make a difference and the Department of the Environment are monitoring the clean up process.

The ESG and other NGOs will continue to help as much as possible regarding volunteers and providing other support.