He Action Plan for Climate and Sustainable Energy of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Paces) makes a broad diagnosis of the situation of the municipality in front of the climate change and proposes a series of priority lines when it comes to acting to alleviate the risks that they entail for 2030. The document, initially approved and which is in the arguments phase, regarding the analysis of vulnerability and local risks of the municipality , establishes that the two priority lines in decision-making are those referring to adaptation to high temperatures in the summer period and to water deficit.
The study, in general, presents a scenario in which, in addition to these two risks, the main consequences of climate change facing Santa Cruz have to do with torrential rains, changes in ecosystems, Saharan dust and the prolongation of heat waves.
The data for the Canary Islands, and, therefore, for the capital, indicate that, associated with the increase in temperatures, an increase in the duration, frequency, and intensity of heat waves is expected, reaching maximum temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius, which is expected to It will cause an increase in the energy demand linked to refrigeration, and an increase in the risk of fires in forest areas and especially in the limits between urban and rural areas.
Specific risk
The Paces points out that episodes of torrential rainfall are expected throughout the municipality, which entails a high exposure of the infrastructures, mainly roads, power distribution points, certain areas near the ravines and, in particular, the coastal zone strongly modified as the coastline occupied by the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and infrastructures and buildings that have been below the level of said front. This is a specific risk in Santa Cruz that particularly affects San Andrés, the area formerly known as Llanos de Regla, between the mouths of the Santos and El Hierro ravines, and the inlet where the ravines converge and flow. ravines of Ancheta and La Leña.
The analysis details that the reduction of the reserves in the reservoirs will expose the municipality to a high vulnerability, to the progressive degradation of the ecosystems and to the reduction of the availability of water for human and agricultural supply. Torrential rains will cause an increase in the destructive power of the floods.
The change towards a semi-arid climate will mean an increase in the loss of soil associated with erosion caused by torrential rains or the wind, which will favor the processes that cause desertification. At the same time, these conditions lead to greater exposure to forest fires, given that some of the municipal entities are within the ZARI (high fire risk zone), particularly those located within the Anaga Rural Park or in its vicinity.
Measures
The Paces proposes a series of actions to reduce the risks described. Thus, among them, a plan to improve the envelope of municipal buildings is proposed; the installation of green roofs in buildings, facilities and public spaces; renaturation of the peri-urban park of Las Mesas; create a network of municipal green areas; use of local species in public green spaces; support for local sustainable agriculture and livestock; recovery of non-productive land; or create a municipal community composting network, or the collection and use of rainwater.
