SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, January 26. (EUROPA PRESS) –
On Friday, Alfonso Cabello, Deputy Minister of the Presidency and Government Spokesperson, held discussions with representatives of the entities constituting the five steering groups formed for the development of the Canarian Agenda 2030.
Accompanied by Octavio Caraballo, vice-counselor of the Presidential Cabinet, he ratified the work strategies set by these teams to promote the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN in the islands.
During the meeting at the Presidency headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Vice-Minister of the Presidency assured the leaders of each steering group that the decisions they make will be adopted as government policies by the Government of the Canary Islands.
Additionally, highlighting the Executive’s resolute commitment to transition from rhetoric to action in adhering to the 2030 Agenda, it was emphasized that this advancement necessitates maximal public-private collaboration.
Alfonso Cabello, Deputy Minister of the Presidency and Government Spokesperson, articulated that if there is any place in the entire national territory where it is pertinent to address the challenge of sustainable development, it is the Canary Islands due to its status as an outermost region.
Furthermore, it was specified that the Canary Islands Executive’s intention with the establishment of these pilot groups, which will conclude in the month of July and then be dissolved, is to “map out” ongoing significant projects throughout the Canary Islands, beyond the scope of the Government of the Canary Islands, which are replicable and scalable in other parts of the archipelago, as per the details in a note distributed by the Executive.
“The commitment of the Canary Islands Government is to bring them out of the usual circuit, identify them as exemplary and attract more proponents to the sustainable development of the 2030 urban agenda,” he highlighted.
Leading the five pilot groups of the Canarian Agenda 2030 are representatives from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the University of La Laguna, the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), the Anagos Network, and the Institute of Canarian Studies.
María Concepción Brito, President of Fecam, expressed gratitude on behalf of these entities for the opportunity to engage in “an inspiring endeavor,” signifying a continual struggle for the advancement of the Canary Islands across various domains. She pointed out that collaboration at the local level and the involvement of Fecam, as well as other groups such as the Governance or Co-governance group, is essential. It cannot be achieved individually; therefore, it is imperative to create synergies and work transversely across all areas, particularly at the local level.
In a similar vein, Noelia Cruz, a researcher at the University of La Laguna, and a member of the Environmental Sustainability group, expressed appreciation for being selected, alongside the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, to participate alongside other stakeholders. She especially valued having a defined timeframe for action.
“Over the next six months, we will diligently work on a specific project to endeavor to develop a plan that can be implemented and is, therefore, beneficial for all sectors and for the Canary Islands, which is our objective,” she remarked.
The five working groups were established on October 20 during the first meeting of this legislative term of the Canary Islands Council for Sustainable Development (CCDS).
FIVE WORK STRANDS
During this meeting, it was agreed to organize the 17 SDGs into five primary work strands: circular economy, social innovation, the impact of climate change risks, collaboration with municipalities affected by demographic challenges, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The task of the pilot groups will be to deliberate and define projects aimed at enhancing the application of the Canarian Agenda 2030 in their respective domains, particularly through public-private collaboration.
This decision was reached at the second meeting of the CCDS held on December 20 in the Risco de San Nicolás neighborhood of the capital of Gran Canaria, where the allocation of areas among these five working teams was established.
The groups are set to commence meetings at the beginning of February with the objective of formulating, within a maximum period of six months, an initial pilot project related to their respective area.
This proposal will then be executed by the Government of the Canary Islands, as committed to by President Fernando Clavijo himself.
FIVE WORK STRANDS
Specifically, the economic sustainability steering group, led by the ULPGC, will concentrate on promoting the circular economy to stimulate diversification of the Canarian productive landscape.
Its aim is also to establish pathways to transform rural areas into spaces of opportunity through technology, the revitalization of territorial culture, and generational succession, particularly in the primary sector.
On the other hand, members of the social sustainability group, led by Red Anagos, will endeavor to explore new avenues that foster social innovation and knowledge-based entrepreneurship.
Consequently, these efforts must center on projects geared towards the social economy as a catalyst for change, generating value and allowing for the creation of sustainable solutions.
Meanwhile, the environmental sustainability steering group, led by the ULL, will primarily focus on improving awareness of climate change effects and seeking avenues to mitigate them.
Moreover, this third working team has been entrusted by the Canary Islands Council for Sustainable Development to seek new solutions for formulating environmental public policies oriented towards a decarbonized economy.
Simultaneously, the governance group will undertake initiatives to form a new partnership between the Government of the Canary Islands and the municipalities grappling with demographic challenges. This initiative will be carried out in close collaboration with the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), which presides over this fourth team.
Lastly, members of the cultural ecosystem group will deliberate and sanction projects linked to the safeguarding of material and intangible cultural heritage as an asset contributing to sustainable development.
This pilot group is led by the Institute of Canarian Studies.
