Guimarães in Portugal is Europe´s Green Capital in 2026
Green News Europe - As the European Green Capital in 2026, Guimarães, that is located in the district of Braga in northern Portugal, exemplifies how sustainability can be deeply embedded into the fabric of a community. With its residents, national partnerships, and European collaborations, the city is forging a greener, brighter future for all. Guimarães is proud to be a signatory of the Green City Accord, a European initiative committed to creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments. The European Commission assesses candidates to the European Green Capital award in the following areas: air quality, noise, water, biodiversity and green spaces, waste and the circular economy, climate mitigation and climate adaptation. Here is why Guimarães in Portugal has been awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2026:
Why was Guimarães in Portugal awarded the title of European Green Capital 2026?
Guimarães in Portugal was awarded the title of European Green Capital 2026 by the European Union for the following reasons:
1 - Guimarães in Portugal was named UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its well-preserved historic centre.
2 - Guimarães in Portugal has embraced sustainability as a cornerstone of its local culture. Innovative businesses are increasingly aligning with the city's environmentally conscious policies, fostering a new industrial culture and enhancing its ecosystem for innovation. Education has been at the heart of this transformation. Since 2015, the city’s environmental education programme, PEGADAS, has played a crucial role in raising awareness and empowering the community to adopt sustainable practices.
3 - Guimarães in Portugal is part of the ecological footprint initiative that serves as a guiding framework, steering Guimarães towards becoming a ‘One-Planet’ city. As a proud member of Zero Waste Europe, Guimarães has pioneered groundbreaking strategies such as the PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) system in Portugal and the RRRCICLO initiative, which promotes circular economy principles through effective communication and community engagement.
4 - Air quality is another area where Guimarães in Portugal shines, with 97% of its residents enjoying ‘good’ or ‘very good’ air quality. Yet, the city remains committed to doing even better, creating a healthier, more liveable environment where families can thrive, children can grow and older generations can age with dignity.
5 - Guimarães in Portugal is proud to be a signatory of the Green City Accord, a European initiative committed to creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments.
¨In recent years we have been preparing the city for climate change and trying to improve connectivity in order to enhance green areas and bring temperatures down. We have managed to reduce temperatures by two degrees. So we know we need to create more green parks, more green areas, and then we need to improve this kind of solution." - Carlos Ribeiro, Head of the Landscape Laboratory in Guimarães, Portugal.
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