- The Spanish Fair Transition Observatory has presented its first regional report on society's perception of the ecological transition in the Canary Islands
- It revealed that 80.5% of citizens firmly believe that climate change is happening
- More than 70% believe that the ecological transition can improve air quality, health, and urban environments
- See the full report here
During the presentation event, public figures such as Mariano Hernández Zapata, Minister of Ecological Transition in the Government of the Canary Islands, highlighted the need to build "a transition for the Canary Islands that generates employment and value and makes the territory a cleaner and fairer place." At the end of the event, Yolanda Baumgartner, director of Social Action for the Tenerife Island Council, emphasized that "the ecological transition cannot be understood in isolation from social welfare," and defined it as "an opportunity to build a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous Canary Islands for everyone."
Furthermore, institutional participation and the roundtable discussion addressed two main themes: how to advance towards an active transition that places citizens at the heart of change and how to strengthen collective action from the climate consensus. The roundtable involved Pedro Millán, Director of Natural Environment for the Tenerife Island Council; Enrique Gómez, specialist at Oficinas Verdes Canarias and environmental science graduate; and Vicente Zapata, professor of human geography at the University of La Laguna. They all agreed on the importance of facilitating the territorial implementation of the ecological transition and activating social involvement with accessible, educational, and participatory tools.
High level of climate awareness and optimism about the future
The report highlights that 65% of the population of the Canary Islands believes that combating climate change should be a priority. Moreover, 80.5% firmly believes that it is happening, in line with the national average.
Citizens of the Canary Islands identify drought and the decrease in water resources (41%) as the main impacts of climate change in their surroundings, while nationally, phenomena such as extreme temperatures (52%) or intense storms (44%) stand out.
Ecological transition: awareness, hope, and importance
Forty-nine percent of the Islands' population says they are familiar with and understand the concept of ecological transition, although information gaps identified in certain age and gender groups reveal the need to strengthen communication.
The perception of the ecological transition process in the Canary Islands is, in general, positive. Around 70% of the population believes it will have a significant impact on reducing pollution, while 64% trusts in its health benefits. Furthermore, the most frequently mentioned emotions when thinking about this transformation are hope (25%), interest (23%), and responsibility (17%), which reflects that citizens are open to change and willing to get involved.
Sustainable behaviors and mobility: progress and barriers
Recycling (71%) is the most widespread practice, followed by monitoring energy consumption (29%) and the use of public transport (26%). However, many people believe that they are already doing enough, which can limit new actions.
Private vehicles continue to be the most common form of transport (61%), although walking or public transport are growing in popularity. The perception of electric cars is positive (due to their eco-friendly nature and low consumption), but there are still concerns as regards the price and the lack of charging points.
Social profiles: committed citizens
The study identifies three different types of citizen in relation to the ecological transition: committed people (49.5%) who are very aware of the environment and willing to take action, skeptics (40%) who show support as long as there is no cost for them personally, and individuals who are resistant to change (10.5%) and are less willing to embrace the transition.
In the case of the Canary Islands, these groups have more similar positions, reflecting less polarization and a more cohesive social context with regard to the transition.
Anabel Suso, coordinator of the report and director of Public Policy Innovation at Red2Red, indicated that "the Canary Islands present a scenario of opportunity. Citizens show a high level of awareness and hope, but also demand measures adapted to their social and territorial reality. The transition will only be legitimate if it is also accessible and understandable."
