Almost 2% of the Canarian population will be relocated before the year 2100 and the effect on GDP will be 11% per year if no measures are taken
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 8. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Minister of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning of the Government of the Canary Islands, José Antonio Valbuena, has admitted this Friday that he feels “anguish” and agony “every time he analyzes a report on the future climate of the archipelago and has warned that in the town halls, for now, “the message is not getting through”.
In an appearance at his own request in a parliamentary committee to detail the conclusions of the PIMA project (Plan to Promote the Environment) Adapta Costas Canarias, he commented that the forecasts for the islands “are above” the most pessimistic scenarios for 2050 and 2100 .
He has warned that “the situation is not reversing and could get worse” and for this reason, he has pointed out that beyond “consensus”, which is important, we must begin to “act” and that future governments continue with the same work than your Executive.
Thus, he has indicated that if the law against climate change is approved, there will already be “tools” to take measures.
Valbuena has commented that the rise in sea level, temperature and erosion will be greater in Macaronesia than in the continental territories and will especially affect tourist activity and the endemism of the archipelago.
The counselor has endorsed the report because the global reality “grounds” on the islands thanks to ITER’s Teide supercomputer and among the main conclusions he has highlighted that almost 2% of the population will have to be relocated to live on the coast –almost 46,000 people– there will be effects on 50 hectares of crops, 220 residential or 176 of facilities and on roads and ports.
For example, he has commented that the Puerto del Rosario water treatment plant (Fuerteventura), the Las Salinas thermal power plant or the Lanzarote airport will have to be relocated before the year 2100.
He has also said that almost 45% of the Canarian beaches will be affected, as well as 38 Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC), stressing that the eastern islands, and especially Gran Canaria, will be the most affected.
From the economic point of view, he commented that the repercussions for the GDP will be 11%, some 4,500 million annually, something that can be alleviated if 2% of the Canarian economy, both public and private, are oriented towards ecological transition.
Valbuena also commented that the average temperature in the archipelago is expected to rise between 3ºC and 4.5ºC until 2100, when the Paris agreement limits it to 1.5ºC, between 60 and 80 nights a year in which “it will not be possible to sleep” due to the heat and up to 95 days of extreme temperatures per year compared to the current 26, to which is added a 20% decrease in rainfall.
He has announced that the Ministry and the Parliament will organize a monographic conference on climate change in the Canary Islands in September and that his department will prepare a similar report adapted to Cape Verde so that they know the risks they face.
Ricardo Fernández (Cs) has commented that the data is “worrying” and implies that the territories must take measures to “mitigate” the effects of climate change, taking advantage of the funds and technical means of the central government and the EU.
He has commented that the Canarian Government must take the “leadership” in this field and for this reason, he has demanded the transfer of powers on the coasts because “it has not yet taken place” despite the fact that he was committed to July 1.
ESG: LOSS TO GDP WILL BE “TERRIBLE”
Jesús Ramos (ASG) has warned that the data in the report are “catastrophic” for the Canary Islands, so “there is no time to hesitate and start acting”, given that 2% of the population will have to be relocated.
He has said that the loss of 11% of GDP will be “terrible” for the economy of the islands, aggravated by the loss of beaches that will generate a negative message in the source markets of tourists, and has wondered if there will be state funds to help to the coasts against climate change.
Manuel Marrero, spokesman for Yes We Can, commented that this report “makes one think of the Canary Islands in 50 or 70 years” and makes it possible to speak of “specific effects” on the islands as a result of climate change.
He has indicated that “adaptation” measures are the “most important” for the archipelago, stressing that island ecosystems are the most vulnerable to climate change.
Thus, he has appealed to “do pedagogy” in the most affected areas and reach consensus and long-term plans outside each Legislature, including “rethinking” territorial planning to avoid construction in ravines or how to safeguard infrastructure for the future.
Luz Reverón (PP) has indicated that the situation is “dramatic” and therefore, it is necessary to explain what is going to happen in the most critical areas because “Canary Islands is going to change” in the coming decades, with 147 tourist beaches at risk.
He has pointed out that if the beaches are an “attraction” of the islands, “things are going to change” from the economic point of view, indicating that citizens have to be “aware” of what is happening.
“Long-term measures must be taken and that requires a global consensus, this has no ideology or political nuance,” he commented.
Reverón believes that “there is still time to do something” and has defended that the first measure is to inform the population about the most affected areas.
CALZADA: THE AFFECT ON TOURISM WOULD BE “A CATASTROPHE”
Beatriz Calzada (CC-PNC) has wondered if “really” measures can be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change or if the situation described in the report is “yes or yes”.
He has shown his concern about the impact on Canarian tourism, which would be a “catastrophe”, which is why he has asked to work on the “diversification” of the economy, and also on the population and infrastructure.
Calzada has urged to “make decisions” given that 2050 “is the day after tomorrow”, giving as an example that planning must be suspended in some areas to prevent them from continuing to grow and at the same time develop other nuclei for rehousing.
Ventura del Carmen, from the Socialist Group, has said that the Government has been “courageous” in diagnosing the problem that the Canary Islands have with climate change, and once the “scare” has been recognized, now it is time to take action.
He has said that the draft law on climate change already includes measures to mitigate the effects and called for “raising awareness” among the population and all public institutions to take into account that urban “changes” must be made.
