The Canary Islands are facing a clear choice about their future. Tourism depends on a stable climate, and leaders say the path forward is decarbonisation. Intensifying climate action is essential if the archipelago hopes to keep climate advantage and sustain its vital tourism asset.
At COP27, held recently in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Yaiza Castilla of the Canary Islands Government spoke at a parallel event organised by the World Tourism Organization.UNWTO The session titled Institutional policies and strategies for expanding climate action in tourism focused on the Glasgow Declaration and its implications for regional policy making.
Before a global audience of policymakers and business leaders, the conference presenter outlined the elements that could help the archipelago emerge as a leading destination. He highlighted the region’s climate conditions as a key driver, noting the subtropical climate as a unique asset in the tourism recipe.
With roughly 40 percent of employment and 35 percent of regional GDP linked to accommodation, safeguarding current climate conditions becomes urgent. The minister described decarbonisation as a strategic objective that must be pursued with determination.
The archipelago’s geography makes it especially vulnerable to climate change, Castilla confirmed, underscoring the need for resilient, climate-conscious planning as a core policy priority.
Public and private Canary Island operators moved quickly in the weeks leading up to COP27, endorsing the Glasgow Declaration. The pledge targets halving carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Alongside this commitment, the Master Climate Action Plan was unveiled, developed by Turismo de Islas Canarias, the island tourism authority.
The plan aligns with UNWTO objectives, aiming to publish a clear roadmap for a climate-sensitive region, one whose natural riches require protection amid changing conditions. Castilla’s department estimates the carbon footprint of Canary Island tourism excluding air and sea travel rose to 1.85 million tonnes in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
We recognise the global scale of this challenge, Castilla said, stressing the need to lower emissions to near zero. He also stressed that meaningful progress cannot be achieved alone and that collaboration with the wider world is essential for real change.
Ethics, Morality, Business and Competitiveness
In tourism, economic goals and environmental responsibility can align. The minister of Tourism, Industry and Trade described decarbonisation as a priority not just because the planet and future generations deserve protection, but because visitors increasingly view environmental stewardship as a factor when choosing a destination. The approach is framed as both a matter of ethics and a competitive strategy.
When weather worsens and natural landscapes lose their appeal, tourism does not just lose beauty; it loses its economic potential. To help operators contribute to environmental health, Canary Islands Tourism rolled out a digital tool tailored to the destination’s needs. A pilot program tested with 35 companies demonstrated how firms can measure their own carbon footprints at no cost and gather reliable emissions data for the tourism sector as a whole. Castilla noted the program was presented during a high-level gathering with many industry leaders and policymakers, reinforcing the collective effort required to build capacity and resilience.
In sum, the Canary Islands are pursuing a climate-action strategy that seeks to protect their natural assets, support sustainable growth, and preserve the competitive edge of their tourism industry. The approach blends policy ambition with practical tools, all oriented toward a shared aim: a thriving, low-emission tourism economy that can weather future climate shifts.