The Portuguese city was awarded the title for using environmental
education to reconnect local residents with their rural landscape,
while promoting environmental practices
Lousada was announced today as the winner of the
2019 Transformative Action Award
at a ceremony held at the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in
Brussels. Its initiative ‘Integrated education for sustainability’ was
selected by a jury of experts for its potential to bring about the
socio-cultural, socio-economic and technological transformation of its
community. The European sustainability award is organised by ICLEI, the
Basque Country and the City of Aalborg (Denmark) and supported by the
CoR and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Lousada is a densely populated municipality in rural Portugal. However,
despite its rural setting, there is in general a low appreciation for the
importance of nature among residents. The City is facing numerous
environmental problems, such as water pollution, forest fires, invasive
plant species, habitat and landscape degradation, and biodiversity loss.
Since 2017, the municipality has used a sustainability strategy structured
on several axis - research; environmental education; social engagement; and
infrastructure. The aim was – to promote environmental practices, inspire
and support alternative ways of creating conservation areas and job
opportunities, and reconnect local citizens with the rural landscape.
Some of the results achieved include the planting of 40,000 native trees
with the support of over 4,500 volunteers; the restoration of over 20
hectares of degraded land; the creation of more than 20 wildlife ponds; and
an increase in waste recycling by over 500 tonnes per year.
“
Natural and social capital are the true and only assurance for our
common future. We must act together, fight together, educate together
and create our future together, for us and the generations to come,
” said
Manuel Nunes, City Councillor for Environment and Nature, Municipality
of Lousada
.
“Congratulations to the Municipality of Lousada!” said Cor Lamers, ENVE Commission Chair and jury member during the
award ceremony. “Your
inspiring transformative action illustrates the powerful role
environmental education plays in promoting environmental practices,
supporting the creation of conservation areas and environmental job
opportunities, as well as reconnecting local citizens with their rural
landscape
.”
Alongside receiving a trophy and the title of “Transformative Action of the
Year 2019”, Lousada also received €10,000 to help kick-start further
transformative actions in their city.
“
I am deeply impressed by the work carried out by the City of Lousada
and eagerly look forward to seeing how their sustainability strategy
and plans develop over the coming years. I hope this prize money helps
catalyze further action and I look forward to seeing those results
,"
said
Wolfgang Teubner, Jury Member and Regional Director, ICLEI Europe.
During the award ceremony, a new
guidance document
for towns and cities seeking to localise the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) was launched. The document, which was written by ICLEI with the
support of the City of Aalborg, and the Basque Country, provides towns and
cities with 15 inspiring and replicable examples of how the pathways of the
Basque Declaration can be used to localise the SDGs.
“The need for transformation towards sustainability has never been as
urgent. We need a technological, socio-economic and socio-cultural
transformation of our societies in order to limit catastrophic
environmental consequences and ensure a decent quality of life for all.
This publication shows the ability and potential of the local level to
act, whilst contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable
Development Goals on a global level,”
said Mr. Teubner.
For more information about Lousada’s winning transformative action, click
here
.
Background:
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
is a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments
committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 100+ countries, we
influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission,
nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. Our Members
and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and
capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability.
The
European Sustainable Cities Platform
was launched in 2016, following the
8th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in the Basque
Country
. Supported by the City of Aalborg, Denmark; the Basque Country, and ICLEI
Europe, it focuses on the uptake of the
Basque Declaration
, which is the main outcome of the 8th European Conference on Sustainable
Cities and Towns.The
9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns
will take place from 30 September - 2 October 2020 in Mannheim (Germany).
The
Basque Declaration
outlines new pathways for European Cities and Towns to create productive,
sustainable and resilient cities for a liveable and inclusive Europe. The
document aims to support and accelerate socio-cultural, socio-economic and
technological transformation.
The Basque Declaration is the next step for local sustainability following
the
Aalborg Charter
(1994), which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and the
Aalborg Commitments
(2004). The Basque Declaration highlights the need for ambitious local
leaders to think outside the box and find innovative ways to engage with
civil society in order to meet economic, environmental and social
challenges and at the same time marks the importance of finding sustainable
solutions that increase economic value for the benefit of the local
population.
Image(s):
Here are a selection of downloadable images related to Lousada’s
transformative Action
[1] Group photo
© Municipality of Lousada, Portugal
[2] Planting trees
© Municipality of Lousada, Portugal
[3] Nature walk
© Municipality of Lousada, Portugal
[4] Cleaning the river
© Municipality of Lousada, Portugal
Press inquiries:
Robert Morrow
Officer, Media and Communications
ICLEI Europe, Leopoldring 3, 79098, Freiburg, Germany
Robert.Morrow@iclei.org