SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Plenary of the Parliament of the Canary Islands has unanimously agreed this Monday to continue with the processing in the Chamber of the Law of Climate Change and Energy Transition of the Canary Islands.
In the first reading debate, the Minister of Ecological Transition, José Antonio Valbuena, has indicated that this law is an objective “from minute zero” of the Government due to the effects of climate change and the Canary Islands “is a hot spot” on the planet due to the richness of species that it harbors and as the exotic ones “find refuge” in the islands.
He has commented that “it is time to take action” because the decade “of major regulatory changes” is beginning and that they must be presided over by the objective that the ecological transition “must be for everyone” and that “no one should hang up.”
Valbuena has commented that the Canary Islands intend to decarbonize in 2040 – ten years before the goal set by the EU – and advanced that the strategies and plans are almost finalized, stressing that it is necessary to achieve the “maximum consensus and participation” of society and political groups. “It has to be the text of the Canary Islands,” he commented.
Ricardo Fernández (Cs) has said that this law is one “of the most necessary” because it sets the future of the islands in energy and environmental matters but criticizes the “inconsistencies” of the text, with duplications, increased bureaucracy and legal uncertainty.
CS CLAIMS A CONSENSUS LAW
He has asked for a “consensual” law for Canarian society to win and that it is aligned with education, while lamenting the few references to energy storage.
Vidina Espino, spokesperson for the Mixed Group, has indicated that this law “is the most important in the history” of Parliament because it will be “a before and after” to fight against climate change, underlining that the document “is a good point of departure “but” is not enough.
He has pointed out that allocating 2% of annual GDP will not be enough and regretted the scarce incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and the participation of universities and scientific centers on the islands.
Jesús Ramos (ASG) commented that the law “sets the path” for the future sustainability of the archipelago, including energy matters, highlighting that it is a project “very participated” by society and now it is the turn of the parliamentary groups.
Manuel Marrero, spokesman for Sí Podemos, has commented that the law is “ambitious” and will “improve” in the parliamentary process, indicating that the Government must “remain firm” in the no to regasification plants and waste incineration.
He has appreciated that it is entering “the era of renewables” and with the introduction of the public sector in generation and distribution, and understands that the future of the islands’ biodiversity depends on this law.
Luis Campos, spokesman for NC, has warned that “if this law fails” nothing will make sense because the human species will be threatened, hence the proposal to “align” all the Government’s objectives with this law.
A FIGHT WITHOUT IDEOLOGIES
Luz Reverón (PP) has pointed out that the fight against climate change “belongs to everyone, it does not belong to ideologies” and combating the greenhouse effect requires decarbonizing the economy but with the “balance” of maintaining economic development. “We need an ambitious law but not only to shorten the deadlines,” he commented.
Jesús Machín, from the Nationalist Group, has indicated that this law is the most important of the islands and therefore has asked to “review” the climate emergency once the law is approved, regretting that there are no councils and municipalities.
He has commented that the text does not include the concept of the Canary Islands as an Ultraperipheral Region (RUP) and warned that there will be “discrepancies” with his group although they are not “disloyalty” but an “opportunity” to enrich the text.
Nayra Alemán, spokesperson for the Socialist Group, has said that this law responds to the Government’s “commitment” to climate change and the energy transition, warning that extreme weather events will come if global warming exceeds two degrees. “It is necessary to change mentalities”, has commented.
