The Regional Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy, Mariano Hernández Zapata, emphasized the acute vulnerability of the outermost regions to climate change during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. He pointed out that these regions are the most severely impacted, noting that 36 specific climate-related risks have been identified for them.
In his dialogue with José Manuel Bermúdez, a member of the Nationalist group, Hernández Zapata referred to the European Climate Risk Assessment report by the European Environment Agency. This report includes a dedicated annex for the outermost regions, underscoring their unique environmental challenges.
Within the Canary Islands, notable risks identified include heat waves, rising sea levels, severe droughts, and increased frequency of forest fires. These highlight the direct threats that climate change poses to the islands.
In response to these risks, the regional government is actively pursuing partnerships with academic institutions to better understand and mitigate these effects. Hernández Zapata mentioned collaborations with the University of La Laguna, which has produced significant research on climate projections for the islands.
Additionally, the government is taking proactive steps like establishing urban climate shelters to offer safe havens during extreme weather events, thus enhancing the resilience of the Canary Islands against the ongoing climate crisis.
