This Wednesday the 18th edition of the International Seminar on Sustainable Regions began
The Southeast Gran Canaria Commonwealth inaugurated this Wednesday, May 14th, a new edition of the International Seminar on Sustainable Regions, already established as a benchmark in the field of island sustainability. Under this edition's theme, focusing on the effects of climate change and rising sea levels, the event brought together local authorities, international experts, and citizens interested in the environmental challenges facing the archipelago at the Víctor Jara Theater in Vecindario.
During the Wednesday morning pre-seminar, activities were held for schools, focusing on workshops and disseminating educational information about climate change and its consequences.
The event itself began with the opening ceremony, attended by Antonio Morales, president of the Gran Canaria Island Council; Francisco García, mayor of Santa Lucía de Tirajana and president of the Mancomunidad; Vanesa Martín, mayor of Ingenio; and Óscar Hernández, mayor of Agüimes. In their speeches, they emphasized the vulnerability to the effects of global warming and underscored the strategic role of institutional cooperation in promoting sustainable public policies that protect the coastline, guarantee water supplies, and preserve biodiversity.
Addressing rising temperatures
The first presentation of the afternoon, by researcher Leandro Ponsoni of the Flemish Marine Institute (VLIZ), offered an innovative perspective on the application of robots and autonomous marine systems to improve ocean observation. His presentation highlighted how these technologies are making it possible to more effectively anticipate, respond to, and adapt to the impacts of climate change on the oceans, facilitating more precise planning in island territories like the Canary Islands. Ponsoni emphasized the need to strengthen observation networks in vulnerable coastal areas and underscored the importance of scientific data as a climate governance tool.
Benjamí Gauchia, senior technician at the Department of Climate and Territorial Action of the Climate Change Office of the Barcelona City Council, presented the PLACALOR 2025-2030 strategy, a proposal designed to mitigate the effects of rising extreme temperatures in urban environments. His presentation made it clear that increasingly frequent and intense heat waves pose a risk not only to public health but also to ecosystems and urban services. The strategy focuses on mitigating the effects of extreme heat in cities, proposing measures such as the creation of climate shelters, the improvement of green infrastructure, and the implementation of early warning systems to protect the most vulnerable populations.
Local solutions to a global problem
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by journalist Wendy Fuentes, which discussed the impact of global warming on three key fronts: the marine environment, the terrestrial environment, and human health. In addition to Gauchía and Ponsoni, other speakers included Ezequiel Navío, naturalist and environmental consultant; Noelia Cruz, engineer at the University of La Laguna; and David Suárez, AEMET territorial delegate in the Canary Islands. The discussion highlighted the interdependence between ecosystems and human well-being, as well as the urgent need to combine scientific knowledge, territorial planning, and civic awareness to address one of the most complex challenges of this century.
The seminar will continue this Thursday, May 15, focusing on the advancement of ocean observations to effectively anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to the impacts of climate change and how to combat the heat in the coming years.
