- 60.9% of Canary Islanders consider tackling climate change a priority, above the national average
- Two in three believe the green transition will help create cleaner environments and improve public health
- Read the full report here
The study shows that Canary Islanders feel the effects of climate change particularly acutely, give higher priority to climate action, and want a say in the decisions that will shape the future of the green transition.
The event brought together representatives from government, business, academia, and civil society to discuss how to achieve a fair green transition that meets the specific needs of the Canary Islands. Teresa Mañueco, Director of fundación Moeve, was joined by Mariano H. Zapata, the Canary Islands Government’s Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy; Blanca Pérez, Tenerife Island Council’s Councilor for the Natural Environment, Sustainability, Safety, and Emergencies; and Adal García, CEO of Sinpromi.
Anabel Suso of Red2Red, Coordinator of the Just Transition Observatory, gave a detailed presentation of the report. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Marta Domínguez, Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Infrastructure at the University of La Laguna; Alejandro Molowny, Director of Waste Management at Tenerife Island Council; and Jesús Matilla, President of the Canary Islands Renewable Energy Association.
The Canary Islands: a strong commitment to the green transition
The Observatory’s findings show that people in the Canary Islands have a high level of environmental awareness and commitment. Some 60.9% believe that tackling climate change should be a priority, above the national average. In addition, 61% believe that citizens should be involved in decision-making alongside the relevant public authorities—eight percentage points higher than the figure for Spain as a whole.
People in the Canary Islands also feel more directly exposed to the effects of climate change. Half of those surveyed believe that extreme weather events affect or could affect their health, while a large majority recognize potential impacts on mobility, natural resources, and the islands’ economy.
Despite these concerns, people in the Canary Islands remain optimistic about the opportunities the green transition can bring. A majority believe it can help create jobs, drive innovation, improve quality of life, and strengthen social cohesion, with several indicators above the national average.
