SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, May 18. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Government Council of the Canary Islands has approved this Thursday, at the proposal of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Fight against Climate Change and Territorial Planning, the Canarian Climate Action Strategy (ECAC), which will be valid for 20 years, reviewable every ten years to update the scenarios and their objectives.
At a press conference, the Minister of Ecological Transition, José Antonio Valbuena, has indicated that the fight against climate change “is global” and each territory must develop actions aimed at the “challenge” of facing climate change and trying to “revert and mitigate” the situation.
He has indicated that the strategy sets “long lights” to 20 years and with an objective of decarbonising the islands in 2040 in a context in which by the end of the century the Canary Islands are expected to have an average temperature of 5ºC more, more temperature and rise in sea level, less but more intense rain, more heat waves and almost six months a year of tropical nights.
The counselor has indicated that work must be done to “resist in the best possible way” to climate change, achieving less dependence on energy consumption, investigating the development of new energy sources and identifying the risks and vulnerabilities of the islands.
In this sense, it has warned of the high occupation of the territory in the archipelago and of a progressive loss of “tourist comfort”, an increase in heat waves, loss of water quality and biodiversity, which will end with less arrival of tourists and therefore lower generation of employment and wealth.
The Strategy, which will also be extendable by the Executive once these 20 years have elapsed, is articulated in section 14 of Law 6/2022, of December 27, on Climate Change and Energy Transition of the Canary Islands, which defines the framework of climate action planning in the archipelago.
Its draft was submitted to a public participation process in 2022, where a good part of the allegations received were incorporated into the final text.
ROADMAP
Thus, it represents a framework instrument for regional planning in the field of climate action that aims to establish a roadmap to move towards a climate-neutral and climate-resilient society in 2040 and establish the set of measures in which the contribution of the Canary Islands will be specified. compliance with commitments regarding climate action.
The ECAC also establishes the determinations to which the set of plans, programs and sector policies must be adjusted in order to achieve the objectives of the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition of the Canary Islands.
Therefore, it exposes the economic and social transformations necessary to respond to the climate crisis, in a coherent and integrated manner, and involves all sectors of the economy and of Canarian society, in addition to taking advantage of opportunities that contribute to improving the competitiveness and modernization of the economy, reported Valbuena.
Likewise, it pursues sustainable growth and a socially just and inclusive transition in order to guarantee job creation, improve the quality of life of Canarian society and protect the environment.
The strategy will be developed through the future Canary Islands Climate Action Plan and the Canary Islands Energy Transition Plan, as well as the island and municipal action plans for climate and energy.
