Canary Islands Water Management Platform Wins 2026 Chris Binnie Award

The Canary Islands are rethinking how they manage water in the face of the climate crisis. This shift has gained international attention, with the University of La Laguna (ULL) announcing that the SICMA Canarias platform has won the 2026 Chris Binnie Award for Sustainable Water Management. Presented by the Institution of Civil Engineers, the award recognizes the vital role digital tools play in helping the islands plan for a drier future.

Developed by a ULL team led by Professor Juan Carlos Santamarta Cerezal and researcher Noelia Cruz Pérez—in partnership with the Climate Research Foundation and the firm Meteogrid—the system is part of the European ARSINOE project. Its strength lies in its high-resolution climate projections, which can map data down to 100-meter squares. This allows officials to forecast the hydrological cycle up to the year 2100 by analyzing ten international climate models alongside various socioeconomic scenarios.

This technology is essential for a region where low rainfall and high water demand are constant challenges. By tracking factors like evaporation, water balance, and temperature, SICMA Canarias provides an open-access tool for climate adaptation. Because the islands have such complex terrain, the platform’s ability to zoom in on microclimates offers a level of precision that was previously impossible.

The award will be officially presented in London on July 2. It not only honors the work of the University of La Laguna but also establishes the Canary Islands as a global leader in water sustainability innovation. As pressure on aquifers and water infrastructure grows, having access to this kind of precise scientific data is crucial for protecting both the environment and the public water supply in the decades to come.