Month: April 2026

The project showcased its tidal pool-reef prototype in Gran Canaria as a solution to the concentration of climate risk on the island’s coastline

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, April 23, 2026. The European project LIFE COSTAdapta put the finishing touch on the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS 2026), held over the past few days in Gran Canaria. On the closing day, the initiative drew international attention thanks to the final presentation by its Technical Coordinator, Patricia Caro Ruiz (ULPGC), which focused on “soft systems for progressive coastal adaptation to climate change.”

Coastal Risk is Already the Present

During her intervention on the main stage, Caro warned that “tomorrow’s coastal risk is already here” and shared revealing data about Gran Canaria’s context: approximately 84% of the island’s population lives below the 400-meter mark, while 42% of its surface area corresponds to protected natural spaces.

This combination causes people, key infrastructure, and climate risk to be critically concentrated in a low and very narrow coastal strip. Faced with this challenge, the project defends a clear premise: “nature as infrastructure is a place-based adaptation logic.”

Hybrid Solutions: The Tidal Pool-Reef in San Felipe

As a major commitment to tackle sea-level rise, LIFE COSTAdapta unveiled the details of its future prototype in the enclave of San Felipe. It is an innovative “tidal pool-reef” that merges local coastal knowledge with adaptive design. This hybrid concept integrates natural tidal pools, living breakwaters, and artificial reefs to achieve three fundamental goals: dissipating wave energy, ensuring sediment stability, and generating new habitats for marine biodiversity.

Institutional Support and Global Alliances

Beyond the conference program, the project maintained relentless activity at its official stand. There, Adrián Noheda, an expert from the Finnova Foundation, connected with global leaders, policymakers, and blue-sector innovators to explore new avenues for climate finance and the scalability of Nature-Based Solutions.

The highlight in the exhibition area was the visit of Raúl García Brink, Environment, Climate, Energy, and Knowledge Counselor at the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. His presence at the stand reinforces the firm institutional commitment to the project and illustrates the strength and cohesion of the consortium when implementing transformative environmental policies on the island.

About LIFE COSTAdapta

The LIFE COSTAdapta project, coordinated by the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC), has a budget of EUR 3 337 563, 60% co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. Its mission is to revolutionize coastal adaptation through nature-inspired hybrid systems.

The multidisciplinary consortium is made up of: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), University of Cantabria (UC), INGECID, Raley Estudios Costeros, ECOncrete AQUA, Canary Islands Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development (FCR), and the Finnova Foundation.

For more information:

https://costadapta.energiagrancanaria.com/

• Patricia Caro leads Day 1 technical visits, connecting science, territory, and nature-based solutions
• Adrián Noheda, Project Manager at Finnova Foundation, promotes access to European funding to scale climate adaptation projects in islands

Brussels, 22 April 2026. The European project LIFE COSTAdapta has consolidated its role as an international benchmark in coastal adaptation during the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 (GSIS 2026), held at ExpoMeloneras (Gran Canaria), through a prominent participation that combines on-the-ground technical expertise with leadership in European funding for island territories.

Applied science in action: the key role of Patricia Caro

During Day 1 of GSIS 2026, the project’s Technical Coordinator, Patricia Caro Ruiz (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ULPGC), played a central role in the technical visits organised across key strategic sites on the island. These activities allowed international stakeholders to gain first-hand insight into real, operational solutions addressing climate challenges.

The visits included the Spanish Bank of Algae, the Salto de Chira pumped-storage system, circular economy initiatives such as ATH Bioenergy, and the protected natural area of the Maspalomas Dunes. This immersive experience highlighted the LIFE COSTAdapta approach, based on integrating natural solutions—such as reefs, dunes and coastal ecosystems—as key infrastructure for climate resilience.

Patricia Caro’s participation reinforces the project’s positioning as a replicable model that connects research, innovation and practical implementation in island contexts, aligned with global climate adaptation challenges.

European funding and partnerships: Finnova’s drive through Adrián Noheda

In parallel, the project has strengthened its strategic dimension through the participation of Adrián Noheda, project manager at Finnova Foundation, the entity responsible for the project’s communication. During the event, Noheda presented LIFE COSTAdapta as a success story in coastal resilience to an international audience, highlighting the importance of combining technical innovation with appropriate financing mechanisms.

He will also lead the side event “Unlocking EU Funding for Islands: Matchmaking Lab”, taking place on Wednesday 22 April from 11:00 to 12:30 in Side Event Room 1. This session, promoted by Finnova, will focus on presenting European funding opportunities for island and coastal territories, followed by a networking session aimed at building partnerships between public and private stakeholders.

The initiative seeks to facilitate access to EU funds and accelerate the implementation of projects related to climate adaptation, energy transition and sustainable development, consolidating Finnova’s role as a bridge between innovation and European funding.

Exhibition presence: LIFE COSTAdapta at the networking space

On 22 April, the project will also feature a stand in the GSIS 2026 exhibition area at ExpoMeloneras, where the LIFE COSTAdapta team, supported by Finnova, will present its innovative coastal adaptation solutions to institutional representatives, companies and potential international partners. This space will enhance the project’s visibility, foster new collaboration opportunities and bring its nature-based coastal resilience model to a global audience.

A global forum for climate action in island territories

GSIS 2026 brings together more than 500 participants from over 100 island territories, including policymakers, experts, companies and international organisations. The event is structured around plenary sessions, thematic panels, technical visits and side events that promote knowledge transfer and international cooperation.

The opening day also featured immersive technical visits that set a strong practical tone for the summit, along with an official ceremony reinforcing global dialogue among islands as key actors in the energy transition and climate action.

About the LIFE COSTAdapta project

The LIFE COSTAdapta project has a total budget of €3,337,563 and is co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE Programme. It is coordinated by the Island Energy Council of Gran Canaria and includes partners such as ULPGC, the University of Cantabria, INGECID, Raley Coastal Studies, ECOncrete AQUA, the Canary Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development, and the Finnova Foundation.

More information about the project: https://costadapta.energiagrancanaria.com/

More information about the summit: https://www.islandinnovation.co/events/global-sustainable-islands-summit-2026

• The European project showcases nature-based innovative solutions for climate change adaptation in island territories
• LIFE COSTAdapta will participate in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 with presentations, networking, and its own stand
• Its presence at Innovation Island reinforces the project’s position as an international benchmark in coastal innovation and resilience

Brussels, 15 April 2026. In the framework of World Creativity and Innovation Week, the European project LIFE COSTAdapta strengthens its positioning as a benchmark in innovative solutions for coastal climate change adaptation. Through its participation in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026, to be held from 20 to 22 April in Gran Canaria, the consortium will showcase how creativity applied to engineering, sustainability, and international cooperation can address one of today’s major environmental challenges: sea level rise in island territories.

Innovation applied to coastal adaptation

LIFE COSTAdapta develops a pioneering methodology based on nature-based solutions to protect the coastline of Gran Canaria from climate change. Its innovative tidal pool-reef system combines traditional knowledge with advanced technology to reduce erosion, mitigate flooding, and enhance biodiversity.

This creative approach not only protects the natural environment but also preserves the social and economic use of coastal areas, especially in regions where tourism and interaction with the coastline are essential.

Creativity as a driver of climate resilience

Within the context of World Creativity and Innovation Week, LIFE COSTAdapta highlights the role of multidisciplinary innovation as a key tool to tackle global challenges. The integration of science, engineering, social participation, and local knowledge enables the design of solutions that can be replicated in other vulnerable territories.

The Canary Islands, identified by international organisations as highly exposed to climate change, thus become a real-life laboratory for testing sustainable solutions with global impact.

Innovation Island: a global meeting point

Participation in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026—also known as Innovation Island—represents a strategic opportunity to share progress, build partnerships, and attract funding.

During the event, LIFE COSTAdapta will feature:

• Participation in two presentations on 22 April to present its results and methodology
• Active presence in international networking spaces
• A dedicated project stand showcasing its innovative solutions

This forum will bring together institutional leaders, experts, companies, and international stakeholders around key topics such as energy, blue economy, climate adaptation, technological innovation, and sustainable finance.

In addition, the event offers special registration conditions, including discounts for residents and groups, facilitating the participation of local and regional actors.

A replicable model for island territories

LIFE COSTAdapta demonstrates that climate change adaptation can be addressed through a creative, sustainable, and economically viable approach. Its model combines environmental protection, local development, and knowledge transfer, aligning with European priorities for the green transition.

The initiative contributes to positioning Gran Canaria as an international benchmark in coastal resilience and nature-based solutions, reinforcing Europe’s role as a leader in climate innovation.

The LIFE COSTAdapta project has a total budget of €3,337,563, co-financed by the European Union through the LIFE Programme (€2,002,538). It is coordinated by the Island Energy Council of Gran Canaria and implemented by a consortium including the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the University of Cantabria, INGECID, Raley Estudios Costeros, ECOncrete AQUA, the Canary Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development (FCR), and the Finnova Foundation.

More information: https://costadapta.energiagrancanaria.com

More information: https://www.islandinnovation.co/events/virtual-island-summit/#speakers-page-1

• Adrián Noheda, Project Manager at the Finnova Foundation, will lead a session on EU funding for island communities

• Patricia Caro Ruiz, Technical Coordinator of the LIFE COSTAdapta project and Project Manager at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), will speak at an international session on nature-based solutions

• The European project LIFE COSTAdapta positions Gran Canaria as a global benchmark in coastal resilience

Gran Canaria, April 2026. The European project LIFE COSTAdapta is participating in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026, held from 20 to 22 April at ExpoMeloneras, Gran Canaria, organized by Island Innovation in collaboration with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. This international forum, which brings together more than 500 representatives from governments, institutions, businesses, and academia across over 100 island territories, serves as a platform for the project consortium to present innovative solutions to climate change, with the aim of strengthening coastal resilience and fostering international cooperation in island regions.

The project’s participation is represented by Patricia Caro Ruiz, Technical Coordinator of LIFE COSTAdapta, responsible for the project’s technical management and implementation in Gran Canaria, and Adrián Noheda, Project Manager at the Finnova Foundation and consortium partner, specializing in EU funding and partnership building.

Nature-based solutions to protect coastlines

Patricia Caro will take part on Wednesday, 22 April at 13:30 in the session “Nature as Infrastructure: Coastal Protection & Community Resilience”, lasting 45 minutes, where she will present the progress of LIFE COSTAdapta in nature-based coastal adaptation alongside international experts from institutional, scientific, and technical fields. Participants include representatives from the Government of Gran Canaria, international organizations, and consultancies specializing in climate resilience.

This session will explore how natural solutions such as reefs, dunes, and wetlands can function as infrastructure to protect coastlines. In this context, LIFE COSTAdapta will present its hybrid tidal pool-reef system, designed to mitigate the impact of sea level rise in the Canary Islands by reducing erosion and flooding, while enhancing biodiversity and supporting key economic activities such as tourism.

EU funding and international cooperation

Adrián Noheda will lead the side event “Unlocking EU Funding for Islands: Matchmaking Lab”, taking place on Wednesday, 22 April from 11:00 to 12:30 in Side Event Room 1, with a total duration of 90 minutes. During the first 30 minutes, he will present key EU funding opportunities for island and coastal territories, followed by a networking session facilitated by the event organizers to connect public and private stakeholders.

This session aims to explain how to access EU funding and build strategic partnerships to advance climate adaptation, energy transition, and sustainable development projects in island regions.

A global forum for climate action

The Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 is consolidating its position as the leading international forum on sustainability in island territories, where policymakers, technical experts, companies, and international organizations exchange knowledge and promote solutions to global challenges such as climate change, the blue economy, and energy transition.

The event features plenary sessions, thematic panels, and side events designed to foster international collaboration, project development, and knowledge transfer among island regions worldwide.

About the LIFE COSTAdapta project

The LIFE COSTAdapta project has a total budget of €3,337,563 and is co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE Programme.

Coordinated by the Insular Energy Council of Gran Canaria, the consortium includes entities such as ULPGC, the University of Cantabria, INGECID, Raley Estudios Costeros, ECOncrete AQUA, the Canary Islands Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development, and the Finnova Foundation.

More information: https://costadapta.energiagrancanaria.com/