Formed by a consortium led by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and made up of european experts, the project has been reviewed by external evaluators and approved by the EU for implementation

A significant majority of San Felipe’s coastal residents, interviewed as part of the project, consider preventing further material damage to buildings and infrastructure a priority

Gran Canaria, April 10th, 2025-. Reducing the pressing impacts of the sea on the coastline.This is the main goal of LIFE COSTAdapta, a European R&D&I project aiming to find a viable solution towards adapting to sea level rise, using the San Felipe coast as a reference, and that is currently working on the preliminary designs for a demonstrator, based on data gathered in the previous phase.

LIFE COSTAdapta, as an environmental climate change adaptation project, focuses on reducing beach erosion, heavily impacted by storms and forecast to shrink between 20% and 94% in the coming decades. The project will neither eliminate nor significantly alter wave dynamics, aiming instead to absorb some of their energy and, through the reconceptualization of tidal pools, lessen the erosive impact on the coast and on onshore elements, much like natural systems such as reefs, sandbanks, or callao berms. An appropriate design will ensure that its effect on sedimentation mirrors that of natural beaches, thereby contributing to coastal stabilization and erosion reduction.

San Felipe’s coastline is home to two notable waves, “El Circo Derecha” and “El Circo Izquierda,” which are being carefully considered in the demonstrator’s design to ensure that their integrity is preserved.

“The prototype’s implementation is grounded in prior studies, empirical data, physical principles, and modelling outcomes, all aimed at reducing wave impact without significantly altering their behaviour, while balancing the diverse interests involved,” explains Raúl García Brink, Councillor for Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge at the Council of Gran Canaria.

García Brink also highlighted the project’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement: “We want to reassure all concerned parties that any potential changes to the hydrodynamics will be thoroughly analysed through modelling and on-site studies, including drone surveys and specialised measurement techniques, carried out at different times of the year and over several years. This will ensure an appropriate balance between coastal protection and the conservation of the coast’s various uses, including sports activities.”

Given its demonstrator nature, LIFE COSTAdapta does not have the scope to cover the entire coastline. The implementation budget for the demonstrator amounts to €746,904.20, 60% funded by the European Union and 40% by the Council of Gran Canaria, limiting its physical reach. Nevertheless, the consortium is committed to maximising coverage within the constraints of budget, design, and recreational considerations. Should the demonstrator prove successful, its solutions could be replicated and scaled to other vulnerable sections of the San Felipe coast and beyond.

Transparency and Community Engagement

Transparency has been a defining value of LIFE COSTAdapta since its inception, with continuous dialogue and input from the San Felipe community. Numerous meetings have taken place between project members, residents, and the mayors of Santa María de Guía, both former mayor Pedro Rodríguez and current mayor Alfredo Gonçalvez.

In April 2024, Rodríguez, García Brink, and the project team presented the details of LIFE COSTAdapta to residents. García Brink stressed the importance of proactive measures to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and coastal hazards, aiming to safeguard frontline communities.

Further dialogue was held with the local surfing community, who were invited to a technical field meeting to contribute insights regarding the area’s waves, all of which were documented and made publicly available on the project website.

On 29 January 2025, the results of community consultation sessions were presented to Santa María de Guía’s City Council, highlighting local concerns over climate change’s effects on the coastline. Notably, 81% of participants expressed alarm over ongoing material damage to infrastructure, while over 80% reported an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme storm events, and their growing unpredictability. These perceptions were in line with technical reports that underline the urgent need for climate adaptation measures and public education on self-protection.

Additionally, 75% of those surveyed underscored the need for environmental regeneration in the area as a critical step toward strengthening coastal resilience.

Mayor Alfredo Gonçalvez reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to supporting the project, stating: “We will collaborate in everything that serves the well-being of our coastline, biodiversity, and the residents of our coastal communities.”

Councillor García Brink further highlighted the importance of embracing soft, preventive solutions rather than deferring action, which could ultimately force reliance on costly, hard-engineering structures such as sea walls or promenades, interventions that could harm the local ecosystem and recreational activities.

About LIFE COSTAdapta

Beyond enhancing the resilience of coastal zones, LIFE COSTAdapta also seeks to conserve characteristic coastal habitats and safeguard the local tourism economy. The project aims to deliver sustainable solutions to reduce flood risks and preserve the natural allure of the area, ensuring the long-term stability of the coastline.

With a duration of seven years and a total budget of 3,409,864 EUR (2,045,818 EUR subsidized by the EU through the LIFE Program), COSTAdapta is a project coordinated by the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) of the Gran Canaria Cabildo with the support of seven partners: the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC); the University of Cantabria (UC); INGECID, Research and Development of Projects; Raley Estudios Costeros S.C.P.; ECOncrete AQUA; the Canary Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development (FCR); and the Finnova Foundation.