Parador Resort & Spa is aware of the importance of protecting the environment, which is why we have focused over the years on sustainable actions to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that has evolved on our planet. It prevents some of the sun’s heat the earth receives from leaving the atmosphere and returning to space, thus producing an effect similar to that observed in a greenhouse.

The increase in temperature affects natural phenomena such as winds, ocean currents, tropical storm formation and more, as well as the survival of life forms as we know them.

Climate change is a phenomenon that occurs naturally over the span of thousands of years of evolutionary history; however, Earth had never before encountered the human species. The current problem is precisely the human element, which is aggravating and accelerating climate change, spurring changes to happen within a few years instead of allowing them to occur naturally over a span of thousands of years. This is why the consequences of our lifestyle as we know it today can be truly disastrous.

For example, an increase of only two degrees in global temperature could have significant effects:

• It would cause the extinction of the mollusks that live in the coral reefs and the coasts, which are a vital part of the food chain in these habitats.
• It would affect the formation of coral reefs around the world. This marine life removes and recycles carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, but the reefs are currently being oversaturated.
• It would radically impact forests—the Amazon, in particular, which is the Earth’s principal “lung.”

This change of only two degrees on the surface would also trigger a series of events that would increase the effects of climate change exponentially, eventually reaching a point of no return with unprecedented consequences for humanity.

This is the main reason why Parador has focused from the start on concrete actions and responsibility for the environment, thus reducing its impact on climate change.

Parador has calculated its carbon footprint and has been implementing action plans to reduce it, creating actions and investments that have been developed to contribute to the reduction of global warming. For example, the hotel has invested in more efficient and environment-friendly equipment, which has significantly reduced power consumption—one of the factors with the greatest impact on our carbon footprint.

Some concrete actions that the hotel has been investing in for the long term include:

• Gradual replacement of lights with energy efficient lighting.
• Replacement and unification of cooling chambers in the kitchen with more efficient and environment-friendly systems.
• Gradual shift in air conditioners with more efficient and environmentally-friendly cooling systems.
• Change of the water-pumping system with a more efficient system.
• Change of electric water heaters with more efficient gas units.
• Significant improvements in all the electrical connections, the transformers and electrical systems, switching to more efficient systems.

As part of our commitment to protect the environment, we will continue to implement projects to reduce the impact of climate change. We urge you to learn more about the impact of global warming so, like us, you can take a step further to ensure a better future for this generation and those to come.