Gibraltar Supports UKOT Climate-Smart Marine Planning Roadmap

Gibraltar Government Press Releases

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

Gibraltar, through its Minister for Environment, has announced support for the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Climate-Smart Marine Spatial Planning Roadmap. The initiative, led by scientists, aims to guide territories in developing effective marine spatial plans that account for climate change impacts.

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Gibraltar has publicly supported the launch of the Roadmap towards climate-smart marine spatial planning in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). This initiative, developed by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP), outlines key enablers such as climate evidence, governance, resources, and communication to support the development of effective climate-smart marine spatial planning (CSMSP) in the territories. The roadmap addresses growing challenges from climate change, including warmer seas, rising sea levels, stronger storms, and ocean acidification, which threaten marine environments and local communities.

This announcement signifies Gibraltar's commitment to collaborative environmental efforts within the UKOT network. While this is a notice of support and a roadmap for planning, regulated entities within Gibraltar and other participating UKOTs should be aware of the increasing focus on climate resilience in marine spatial planning. Compliance officers should monitor future developments and potential integration of these planning principles into local environmental regulations and operational practices. No immediate compliance actions or deadlines are specified in this announcement.

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+ Reset ## Gibraltar Supports UKOT Climate-Smart Marine Planning Initiative - 207/2026

March 24, 2026

The Minister for Environment, John Cortes, in his role of Chair of the UK Overseas Territories Environment Ministers’ Council, participated virtually in the launch of the Roadmap towards climate-smart marine spatial planning in the UK Overseas Territories.

The Roadmap was led by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, in partnership with colleagues from the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP), and outlines how the four key ‘enablers’ of climate evidence, governance, resources and communication could support the development of effective climate-smart marine spatial planning (CSMSP) in the territories.

UKOTs are home to some of the world’s most biodiverse and economically vital marine environments, yet they are facing growing challenges from climate change, including warmer seas, rising sea levels, stronger storms and ocean acidification, which all threaten local communities, economies and marine ecosystems, as outlined in the first MCCIP-UKOTs project.

The launch included contributions from Minister Hon. Kyle Hodge of the Government of Anguilla and Minister Hon Zhavaego Jolly, of the Government of Turks and Caicos, as well as from Prof Matt Frost, MCCIP Chair.

In his contribution in closing the launch event, Minister Cortes stressed that Climate Change is having significant impacts on UKOTs and is projected to do so well into the future. He stressed the importance of taking account of this fact in marine spatial planning, and how this project could inspire similar work in other Overseas Territories and small islands.

The Roadmap can be accessed at this link: UKOTsCSMSPRoadmap_2026.pdf

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