Increasingly, public opinion is speaking out against urban projects. Cases such as the construction of the macro-projects Cuna del Alma, in Tenerife, or Dreamland, in Fuerteventura, have brought to the table the need to seek an alternative model "that calls into question not only construction, but the entire consumption model."
This was stated by urban planner Jonathan Sicilia on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, who is one of the speakers who will participate in the seminar The limits of the planet - Lanzarote and its limits that the Island Council is hosting this week.
New tourism moratorium?
As Sicilia indicates, in the Canary Islands we must begin to question "where we are going", taking into account that, to develop a new tourism moratorium or land law, it is necessary to focus on "the fact that there is currently a lot of very expensive acquired rights."
In that sense, the urban planner recognizes that "it is necessary to enable new guidelines", but that they offer the guarantee that "the public administration is not going to be ruined by paying compensation" and that, in addition, they make visible the fact that "when we destroy an ecosystem, putting it back into operation costs a lot", a reality that, although awareness about nature and the Canarian environment has improved, in his perception, "is not being taken into account."
Outdated urban planning guidelines
But, where does all this "cement policy" come from? From the lack of updating of these same guidelines: "We are in 2022, but we are operating with a 1978 regulation, so the standards per square meter built respond to the needs of that year", says the professional.
Based on this, it is easier to understand why "the landscape is dominated by vehicles, since in the 70s and 80s the most important thing was to be able to leave the car everywhere" or "that architects prevail who restrict their artistic freedom because they want to use the space to the maximum."
"Current design solutions do not respond to aesthetic and visual culture criteria, but to globalized ones", details the professional, "so we must stand up and ensure that new constructions begin to respond to landscape values."
"Tourism increasingly shows its lack of balance"
Along with excessive urban planning and as a cause and consequence of it, the tourism problem arises, an industry that, although it continues to be the main source of income in the Canary Islands, increasingly shows its lack of balance.
As Sicilia comments, "at a social level we are becoming aware that tourism is not equitable, perhaps because other professional models have been opened up to us, offered in large part by digitization."
In that sense, it has been shown that "tourism does not translate into a total improvement, although in the past it brought maximum development": "The key is to be able to rethink a new economic model without giving up this industry that, has always been so relevant to the islands."
Sustainable management of resources
A new economic model... Based on the sustainable management of resources based on the technological capacity we have.
"We have to choose what to give up", clarifies the technician, "for example, if we see it necessary to continue having four cars at home or continue importing pears from Chile to be able to eat them throughout the year."
In the professional's opinion, the concept of sustainability has been "trivialized" by always linking it to development or growth, since "we should really consider whether sustainable growth can really be achieved in a world that, whether we like it or not, is finite."
Therefore, beyond "demonizing specific actions", Sicilia advocates for "addressing a comprehensive debate that questions our entire mode of consumption", taking as an example the island of Lanzarote, where despite the objectives set, "we have not been able to produce 10% of what we consume, and this scheme will not be able to be perpetuated forever."
