The president of the Domingo Alonso Group, Oliver Alonso, has warned that strict application of European regulations on CO₂ emissions would be seriously detrimental to the Canary Islands, as it fails to take into account the archipelago’s economic, energy, and social specificities. Alonso supports the recent letter sent by the presidents of ACEA and CLEPA to Ursula von der Leyen, which warns of the unfeasibility of the emissions reduction tarobtains set for 2030 and 2035 in the current geopolitical and economic context. “If Europe, with all its industrial capacity, hesitates, how can we expect to apply that same standard to the Canary Islands?” he questions.
The businessman emphasizes that the Canary Islands’ reality is different from that of the mainland in several key aspects: The trade winds disperse emissions, ensuring air quality superior to that of major European industrial cities; the average income of Canarians is significantly lower than that of Europe, which creates access to electric vehicles more expensive; 80% of the islands’ electricity still depconcludes on fuel, creating the switch to electric mobility “nonsensical.” And, above all, consumer freedom to choose the type of vehicle they want to drive must prevail.
Alonso demands that the Canary Islands be exempt from European requirements until three conditions are met: a predominantly renewable energy mix, a sufficient and affordable charging network, and an income level that allows access to new technology. “In the meantime, imposing blind restrictions will only exacerbate inequality and will not provide tangible environmental benefits,” he warns. The president of the Domingo Alonso Group concludes that the energy transition is necessary and inevitable, but insists that Europe must apply differentiated criteria. “The future of the Canary Islands cannot be decided from an office in Brussels without viewing at the clear skies of our islands or the pockets of its citizens,” he concludes.
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