Organizations call for greater participation and investment in sustainability to adapt Balearic tourism to climate change

PalmSocial and financial entities have called for greater citizen participation and investments focused on sustainability to ensure that the Balearic Islands' tourism model adapts to the effects of climate change. This was stated on Friday by Jaume Garau, a member of Palma XXI, and Laura Patricia Garrido, a member of the board of directors of Caixa Colonya, during their participation in the conference 'From Intensity to Value: The Necessary Adaptation of the Tourism Model,' organized in Palma by the Bank of Spain. Garau opened the first panel discussion, entitled The environmental challenge for tourismWith a plea for greater citizen participation in decision-making processes related to, among other things, the archipelago's socioeconomic model, he emphasized, "Civil society, businesses, government, political parties, and unions must engage in open dialogue, based on reliable data, to establish mutual strategies. This is the fundamental condition for facing the future of the Balearic Islands with any real chance of success." Although there have been various attempts over the years, he lamented that the archipelago is still far from having the different actors involved in shaping society "operate according to the principles of democratic dialogue." "Mallorcan society needs people to sit down and address the problems. We need civil society to be present at the negotiating table for strategies against climate change and changes to the socioeconomic model," he insisted.

If these forums for dialogue and collaboration are not formed, he warned, the Balearic Islands will not be able to escape a situation that is detrimental to the public. "If we are not able to unite, each of us will defend our own interests as a company, political party, or influence group," he explained.

Investments in sustainability

Next, it was Garrido's turn, who focused on the need for financial institutions to direct their investment flows toward sustainable models. Only in this way will a true green transition in the tourism model be possible, he asserted.

The way humanity inhabits the world, Garrido warned, is "increasingly unsustainable" and often does not conform to "planetary boundaries."

"There are limits we cannot exceed, such as climate change, ocean acidification, and biodiversity loss, and a baseline should also be established that we should all strive to reach for the world to be fair." This means not only measuring the success of tourist destinations in terms of visitor numbers or impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but also considering the risks they assume regarding pressure on the land and natural resources, waste management, and biodiversity. "Tourism is an interconnected network of all industries and sectors, and therefore affects both the top and the bottom. If we manage to transition to a more sustainable tourism model, the impact on the Balearic Islands will be enormous," he predicted. To achieve this, he proposed that financial institutions should emphasize investments that align with advancing sustainability. "We must examine what we finance and under what conditions to achieve a long-term transition," he noted.