The Cabildo (the island council) of Gran Canaria held a local press conference last week about the planned alignment and adaptation of its own political goals with the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. 
In preparation for this step, Island President Antonio Morales and his team have analyzed their previous policy and found that a total of 110 of the commitments originally set out in the government program are already in line with the UN 2030 Agenda. Gran Canaria is developing into an eco-island and aims to be a pioneer in applying the 2030 Agenda to motivate other communities to follow.
Further details for alignment of policies with the agenda 2030 are being researched and formulated. A working group for implementation will be set up to further support the plans.
The press conference was the first public step to present and explain the project before taking on. The further adjustment of both the goals and the budget to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take place in the near future. Even the terms of the items in the island government’s budget follow the UN agenda, so the funds will be planned for
the people,
the planet,
for prosperity,
for peace and
for alliances
A mindshift will be necessary here – towards solution-oriented approaches and values instead of problem-focussed thinking.
The budget will correspond and digital key performance indicators (KPIs) should ensure that all expenditure is in line with the big goals.
A dwindling trust of the population in their political representatives around the globe also affects Gran Canaria – the administration will therefore focus on consolidating this trust by including the population in decision-making and aligning with mission-driven goals. The way there is the only way to equip both society and the economy for the future.
Main goals in the realignment of the island are e.g.
– Zero emissions by 2050 (in line with UN goals),
– Reduction of import dependency,
– Protection and restoration of natural ecosystems
– Development and promotion of promising innovative industries such as audiovisual and IT services
– Acquisition of film productions under the aspect of economic development,
– Expansion of the start-up community and ecosystem
– Expansion of the Blue Economy, such as aquaculture and the Oceans Energy database
– The skills and clusters necessary for a “smart island” with improved energy and mobility
and numerous other segments.
✔️ Gran Canaria offers the best and most attractive conditions for audiovisual companies across Europe. The sector can claim considerable tax reductions, studios and office space are available in specially designed innovation parks. The tax here (if the right conditions are met) is only 4% instead of the around 32% usual elsewhere.
✔️ Various international communities on the island are also good reasons to open a company or branch. There are well-educated young people, lower salaries and high quality of life – investors and international students are welcomed with open arms.
✔️ Tourism, so far the most important mainstay of the island, has to be redesigned and aligned – as done with the new programs for digital nomads, which were already developed during the pandemic and which tap into new target groups. The previous focus on mass tourism must be changed and good and sustainable alternatives developed. Since this same challenge arises in many municipalities in Spain, Gran Canaria wants to become a pioneer here.
In context to the meetings and conference industry, there will be increased coordination and orientation between the congress office and the business development agency – this goes hand in hand with communication on innovation topics and targeted search for and acquisition of future events from the respective knowledge clusters.
Further sustainable tourism projects are being planned, such as the use of e-mobility, the use of solar energy for the hotels, certificates and classification for restaurants that use local products.
All projects are geared towards post-pandemic economic renewal. Gran Canaria knows what needs to be done and has the visions that it needs – namely to set big and sustainable goals and to be the pioneer in the region.
For all those who still have a picture of Gran Canaria as a sole sun destination, we will present a selection of the various projects mentioned, in the near future.
The journey to and from the island can already be neutralized by purchasing a certificate for compensation of the CO2 footprint. The trees that are being reforested from this compensation and their positive impact on the environment can be admired on future visits.
To be continued.
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