Smart Environment
SWOT Analysis
Weaknesses
- Existence of losses in water management in some municipalities.
- Marine pollution due to poorly treated water.
- Lack of clean points in some of the island’s municipalities.
Threats
- High dependence on oil as a source of energy on the island.
- High dependence on foreign supply.
- High water consumption on the island due to the agricultural sector.
- Large volumes of waste generated by plastics.
Strengths
- Optimal weather conditions for the implementation and development of renewable energies.
- High awareness on the part of the agents present on the island of the importance of sustainability.
- Great importance of the conservation of the island’s natural and scenic resources.
- Implementation of low-consumption lighting in most of the island’s municipalities.
Opportunities
- The prospect of increased savings and reduced consumption due to a more intensive use of ICT in the different services.
- High potential in climatic conditions for the implementation of renewable energies.
- A progressive implementation of renewable energies is currently underway, which will reduce the island’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Objectives
Achieve a
0
%
of energy produced by
renewables
To recycle the
0
%
of the island’s waste
Plastic-free La Palma in
2030
Reduce water losses to the point of
0
%
Action plans
Promoting renewable energy
Problems
La Palma uses non-renewable energy sources such as petroleum as its main energy resource. This creates a situation of vulnerability since we depend on the exterior to supply us with electricity.
Solutions
- Implementation of new installations on the island for the development of renewable energy. For example, on the roofs of municipal buildings and public areas such as bus stops, lighting systems, etc.
- Avoid damaging the characteristic landscape of the island with initiatives such as solar trees.
- Promote the use of renewable energy by raising public awareness.
Plastic-free La Palma
Problems
Plastics:
- They seriously damage the health of aquatic ecosystems, polluting and even harming the survival of some species.
- They have a slow degradation process.
- As of January 1, 2023, the distribution of non-reusable plastic packaging will be prohibited in Spain.
Solutions
- Raise public awareness with events and campaigns to inform about the negative effects of plastics and how to act.
- Implement new regulations to reduce the use of plastics by collaborating with private and public companies.
Optimize waste collection
Problems
- Several municipalities of La Palma do not have a clean point.
Solutions
- Improving the efficiency of waste management.
- Sensorization of containers to manage their collection and emptying according to their filling quantity.
- Alternatively, use solutions that predict container filling based on historical data.
- Cover all municipalities with clean point facilities.
- Work on raising public awareness to promote recycling.
- Bio-waste production.
Improve water network management
Problems
- The poor condition of the distribution network in La Palma leads to a high percentage of losses.
- The desalination process generates high oil consumption and CO2 emissions.
- Poorly treated water causes marine pollution.
Solutions
- Implementation of sensorization and new infrastructures to monitor the water network to eventually reduce leaks, discharges into the sea and sources of contamination.
- Improve the management of green areas by installing sensors that collect humidity levels or other useful meteorological data.