OTWO Magazine November 2019 | Page 84

We have published our core aims and objectives ever since we formed in the year 2000. We are very grateful to OTWO for giving us this opportunity to share our views and aims in its publication by pu- blishing our current List of Objectives over the next few editions. As our team has grown in knowledge and experience of Gibraltar’s local and regional envi- ronmental situation, our core aims have also evolved since 2003. 2003 Wish List: Cut back drastically on pollution and waste. Greatly improve on and invest in planning and deve- lopment strategies. Introduce healthy and sustainable forms of transport. Introduce recycling and alternative energy measures. Encourage best available practises and technology wherever possible. Protect and preserve our natural heritage and living environment. Promote environmental awareness within the com- munity Todays List of Objectives 2019: 1. Climate Change. 2. Adherence To Eu (Or Higher) Environmental Stan- dards Beyond Brexit. 3. Energy. 4. Pollution – (Land/Sea, Port & Dockyard Impacts – Airport & Border). 5. Traffic & Transport. 6. Bunkering. 7. Cross Border. 8. Epidemiological Studies. 9. Sewage Treatment. 10. Waste / Recycling / Litter. 11. Planning & Development. 12. Conservation. 13. Emf Radiation. 14. Tourism In The Upper Rock. 15. Environmental Action & Management Plan. 82 (Each section is briefly explored in a 13 page docu- ment you can find online at: http://www.esg-gib.net/wp-content uploads/2019/09/LIST-OF-OBJECTIVES-Septem- ber-2019_.pdf Brief Summary Our present paper was produced as a lobbying docu- ment during the October 2019 elections, before par- ty manifestos were published. We were pleased to see quite a lot of our issues contained within party manifestos and, as this edition goes to print, a new Government will be in office and we will have resu- med our lobbying to ensure that our objectives are realised. Issues we target include climate change and local causes, pollution, environmental stds and enforcement, oil based industries, public health as- sessments, transport, development, EMF radiation, litter, conservation, energy and cross border. Funda- mental planning and development issues in mana- ging Gibraltar’s environment are of key interest to us and we work hard on the DPC to push for best environmental outcomes. Major projects dealing in Gibraltar’s waste, sewage treatment and power ge- neration are also areas we follow. titions and organised protests, with more to follow, calling for such a body to also have input from NGOs and other interested parties, and to report back to the community, as well as to Gibraltar Parliament. Clearly we have work to do here but whatever ha- ppens, it must happen fast and Action Plans and Strategies to deliver on the Climate Emergency Ple- dge made by Government in the summer must be published without further delay. Hope you find our list of interest – it is by no means exhaustive – and given pace of change in some areas – will have been overtaken by events so we will be looking at updating this in 2020. www.esg-gib.net Tel: 200-48996 [email protected] The most pressing issue at present is the need for collective and focused action that must be taken to address climate change. The ESG has historically called for cross party consensus on environmen- tal decisions and management and has reiterated this message via a new platform formed in Gibral- tar to campaign on Climate Change: ‘Coalition for Climate Action’. This grouping includes the ESG (Environmental Safety Group), GONHS (Gibraltar Or- nithological and Natural History Society), TNP (The Nautilus Project), GHT (Gibraltar Heritage Trust), Sustainable Gibraltar and Pollution Watch. This group wants to see an Independent Body set up for climate action, independently funded, with a cross party supported, time lined and binding agenda to decarbonise Gibraltar’s community. Manifestos inherently supported the need for cross party consensus – which is good – but less clear is how each one sees delivering on the independent body being called for by us NGOs. We have run pe- OTWO 04 / NOVEMBER 2019 OTWO 04 / NOVEMBER 2019 83