Brexit and the Environment

Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Dr John Cortes last week chaired a meeting with NGOs and Departmental officials to study the impact of Brexit on the environment.

Both the Environmental Safety Group (ESG) and the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) were represented at the meeting.

Discussions dealt with a large range of matters, including the implication of possible eventual non-application of environmental Directives in Gibraltar and the possible effects of difficulties at the border.

It was agreed to keep meeting regularly in order to identify risks to the environment in more detail and to set out a roadmap to ensure that Brexit does not result in Gibraltar’s environment being compromised.

Dr John Cortes said: “In addition to the single market and freedom of movement, the environment is one of the key elements that the EU has improved throughout the Union.”

“In the same way that Gibraltar has to be prepared to tackle the economic and political effects of Brexit, we must be ready to ensure that our environmental status continues to improve.”

“I am very pleased indeed that the Government’s Department of the Environment and Climate Change, GONHS and the ESG will be working together towards this common aim. This is an example of how all of Gibraltar has to pull together to make a success of any uncertainty that may await.”