Guimarães moves forward with Municipal Climate Action Plan

On 5 December, the municipality of Guimarães held a workshop on the Municipal Climate Action Plan, where adaptation actions were discussed.

The session, held at the Landscape Laboratory, saw the active participation of around 50 representatives from various sectors, including municipal technicians, mayors, political parties, NGOs and the Public Security Police, among others.

The main aim of the event was to mark an important step in the realisation of the Municipal Climate Action Plan, with participants contributing to the definition of adaptation measures. In this context, the Councillor for the Environment, Sofia Ferreira, emphasised the importance of the workshop and everyone’s collaboration in building Guimarães’ sustainable future. “This is an important moment for Guimarães, as we are taking a decisive step towards realising our mission of achieving climate neutrality by 2030,” she said. “To achieve this, it is essential to have the participation of all sectors of society in order to identify the best measures to adapt our city to the challenges of environmental change,” she added.

The session was also accompanied by the general coordinator of the 2030 Mission Structure, Isabel Loureiro, and the executive director of the Landscape Laboratory, Carlos Ribeiro. It should be noted that six working groups were formed during the workshop, covering key topics such as “Education and Environmental Awareness”, “Biodiversity and Agriculture”, “Water Resources”, “Spatial Planning Cities and Buildings”, “Forestry: Safety of People and Goods and Human Health”, and “Innovation and Smart Cities”. These groups focused mainly on adaptation measures, contributing to a comprehensive plan.

Guimarães’ Climate Action Plan is aligned with national strategies and with the municipality’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality under the 100 Cities Mission. This alignment is evidenced by the submission of the climate contract and investment plan to the European Commission, in addition to the actions foreseen in the Municipal Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change.

It should be remembered that the approval of the Basic Climate Law has strengthened climate objectives. The law considers the preparation of the Municipal Climate Action Plan to be an essential part of the climate policy governance framework, covering the areas of mitigation and adaptation. In this sense, the Action Plan’s horizon focuses on a short-term approach (2030), in line with national strategies and Guimarães’ mission to achieve climate neutrality. This endeavour aims not only to reduce the sources of greenhouse gases, but also to adapt to the expected impacts of environmental change.