Greenpeace has highlighted the environmental situation of the Canary Islands in its report titled “Destruction at All Costs,” published in July. The document addresses key urban planning and environmental conflicts across the archipelago, warning of ongoing pressures from development and climate change on coastal areas and marine ecosystems.
In Lanzarote, Greenpeace identifies two main issues: a rise in cases of urban violations and the degradation of the island’s northern marine reserve, which it links to ocean warming. Data from the Canary Islands’ Natural Environment Protection Agency indicates that in 2025, a record 1,419 sanctioning files for illegal constructions and unauthorised land movements were opened across the region.
Of those, 115 relate specifically to Lanzarote, mainly in the municipalities of Haría and Teguise. Greenpeace claims many of these actions involve makeshift buildings, fencing, or terraces encroaching on public coastal land, which undermines coastal habitats and visual aesthetics.
The report also reviews significant urban conflicts, such as the Cuna del Alma project in Adeje, Tenerife, which is under judicial investigation due to its coastal protection permit; the hotel at La Tejita in Tenerife; and the Oliva Beach hotel in Fuerteventura, which faces a state demolition order.
Regarding climate change and fishing, Greenpeace notes that the biomass of fish in the northern marine reserve—Spain’s largest—has been declining. This reduction is attributed not to sharks, as previously suggested, but rather to climate change. The persistence of a positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation disrupts ocean currents and lessens the upwelling of nutrient-rich cold waters, leading to rising sea temperatures.
As a result, tropical species like wrasse are becoming more prevalent, while commercially important species like mackerel are declining. The report also cites research from the University of La Laguna highlighting the impacts of rising temperatures and changes in salinity on various macroalgae species in the Canaries.
In addition to its complaints, Greenpeace showcases successful examples of coastal restoration and adaptation to climate change. Notably, the demolition of the old abandoned hotel in Añaza, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, aims to restore the coastal environment, alongside planned actions for Las Caletillas beach in Candelaria. The report also praises the management of La Cícer area at Las Canteras beach in Gran Canaria, where authorities opted to respect the natural dynamics of the sea following winter storms, focusing on waste removal and environmental conditioning without artificial sand replenishment.
