The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan has been launched today.

The Plan sets out the Government’s environmental priorities for the next 25 years under six broad environmental themes: environmental governance, healthy and sustainable cities, combating climate change, reducing pollution and waste, developing the green economy and ensuring healthy ecosystems.

The Plan was published in draft format in December of last year for public consultation. Following that, a full review of the Plan was undertaken and it is now being launched in its final form.

Minister Cortes had the opportunity to discuss the Plan with the UK Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh, who had warm words of support for the Plan, recognising that Gibraltar’s environment underpins the health, prosperity and culture of its people and saying that she looked forward to working with Gibraltar to bring this new vision to life.

The Department of the Environment is now working on a series of key performance indicators under each theme, which will form the basis of its environmental reporting.

The 25 Year Plan is available online.

The Minister for Environment, the Hon Prof John Cortes, said:
“This is an ambitious long-term plan underpinned by key principles and strategic goals, based in large part on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. I have to take this opportunity to thank the team at the Department of the Environment for their expertise and hard work, and also the public and environmental NGOs for their comments on the consultation draft published almost a year ago.

“I’d also like to thank Minister Mary Creagh, who received an advance copy when I met her in London last week, for her continued support under the UK’s Darwin Plus Programme. This 25 Year Plan for Gibraltar’s environment was well received by representatives of the other Overseas Territories and dovetails with the wider Biodiversity Plan published last week.

“There is lots still to be done, but this important plan commits the future of Gibraltar to a sustainable environment.”

ENDS