How to have a more sustainable holiday in Lanzarote

Lanzarote Retreats has partnered with Canary Green, a non-profit organisation promoting sustainable tourism in the Canary Islands. We spoke to founder John Dale Beckley to find out how we can all do our bit to make a difference to climate change.

Originally from Durban in South Africa, John has lived in the Canary Islands for 20 years. He is passionate about educating locals and visitors on sustainable change to help preserve the islands. Here’s what he had to say…

Why did you launch Canary Green?

I set it up in 2010 at a time when I wanted to feel more meaning in my life. In the beginning, it was about doing little things to make a change. Now there are 10 of us and the website has lots of useful content. We’re getting some great support from partners across the Canaries.

What are your goals?

Our mission is to showcase and promote all the responsible and sustainable initiatives on the Canary Islands. Ultimately, we want to talk to the 15 million visitors coming to the Canary Islands each year and encourage them to have a sustainable holiday.

How are you hoping to have an impact?

We need to look at how we can change our lifestyles. Sustainable tourism has got to be about a holistic approach, supporting local businesses during your holiday, using reef-friendly sun cream, eating a better diet etc.

What else are you doing this year?

We’re working with Lanzarote Retreats and Limpia Lanzarote to hopefully organise more beach clean-ups and we’re launching Meat-Free Monday Canarias to encourage people to have at least one plant-based day a week. Visit our website to find out about all the latest projects and to read the latest issue of Greenscape magazine.

How can visitors make a difference? Top 3 tips for being a sustainable tourist

1. Choose your accommodation based on its sustainability credentials rather than on price
2. Eat at local restaurants and join the new Canary Green Meat Free Monday campaign
3. If you’re taking part in an activity on holiday, make sure that you are supporting a local business, also that you’re not doing anything that harms the environment

John is on a mission to celebrate people and businesses doing good things. The team stayed with us at Finca de Arrieta and have included Lanzarote Retreats as a Sustainable Tourism in Action success story. Read more here.