A total of 348 businesses from 36 locations in Tenerife have joined the Hospitality #ForTheClimate initiative, a pioneering effort to promote decarbonization in the sector. This action, unveiled today at the Niokobok restaurant at the Adonis Plaza Hotel, is the result of a partnership between Coca-Cola and the Ecology and Development Foundation (ECODES), in collaboration with Hospitality of Spain.
It also has the support of the Association of Entrepreneurs from the Central Area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Federation of Urban Areas of the Canary Islands (FAUCA), and involves studying the actions that companies in the sector are taking against climate change. The ultimate goal is to develop a plan to help decarbonize these businesses.
With the addition of these establishments on the island, there are now more than 10,700 businesses participating in the initiative throughout Spain.
During the presentation, the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, acknowledged the strategic value of the sector: “hospitality accounts for more than 7,000 jobs in the municipality and is key to the city’s development, which is why they have our full cooperation and support so that, through initiatives like this, they continue to progress on the path towards sustainability”.
The CEO of Commerce and Business Support at the Tenerife Island Council, Krysten Martin, thanked Coca-Cola, ECODES, and companies in the sector for “rising to the occasion and adapting to sustainability, where the restoration sector is a leader and a driving force that accompanies a society increasingly aware of responsible consumption and environmental care.” In this regard, she advocated “the necessary public-private collaboration as a catalyst for change to achieve fairer and more balanced societies, and joint efforts to contribute to the fulfillment of the SDGs and the 2030 agenda”.
The Vice President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, stated that “we are all involved in a common goal,” and recognized “the contribution of this initiative to complement the work being done by the Canarian Government to compile all the actions taken, and to advocate in Europe for the efforts, interests, and uniqueness of the Canary Islands and companies operating on the islands in terms of sustainability and competitiveness”.
The Communications Director, Public Affairs and Sustainability of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Iberia, Victor Morales, stated that “for responsibility, impact, and capacity for action, companies play an essential role in the fight against climate change. With the boost of this platform, aimed at the hospitality sector, our challenge is to unite forces in this fight through partnerships, as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17, which is crucial for this project”.
The Director of Climate Action at ECODES (Ecology and Development Foundation), Pablo Barrenechea, expressed that “Hospitality #ForTheClimate highlights the role of bars and restaurants in translating the ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement into daily action. Regardless of the outcome of the Climate Summit held in Dubai, we have witnessed how the global agenda is expanding and accelerating the implementation of measures to ensure that the planet’s temperature does not exceed 1.5°C by the end of the century. Hospitality businesses are essential in this action as they are taking responsibility for their CO2 emissions, having the opportunity to become role models for other establishments and the public”.
The Vice President of Leisure and Restoration at the Association of Entrepreneurs from the Central Area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Ana Rosa Delgado, stated that “it is an honor to be part of Hospitality #ForTheClimate in Tenerife and the response that the project has generated among restaurateurs reflects the sector’s interest and commitment to sustainability. Activities like this are very interesting for knowledge and training in this area. Thanks to projects like this, it becomes easier to organize the actions we have been taking in our establishments alongside the new ideas they bring us”.
The President of the Federation of Urban Areas in the Canary Islands (FAUCA), Abbas Moujir, declared that “from the Federation, we are implementing a similar project at a regional level, so this national action has our full support. In this regard, we will always be aligned with entities planning any action that promotes sustainability in this sector”.
The manager of the Plaza Restaurant, Inma Rodríguez, also attended the event.
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