Porto Climate Contract accelerates all decarbonisation paths

With a Climate Contract signed, the city of Porto maintains not only its commitment but also its accelerated progress towards the carbon neutrality by 2030 target. Last week, the municipality announced the progress of two projects that have proved fundamental to this endeavour: ASCEND, which envisages the creation of a 'positive energy' district, and WAKE UP!, which integrates technology and information to place citizens at the centre of climate action.

'Carbon neutrality by 2030 is a huge ambition for Porto, which will contribute to a city with an increasingly higher quality of life', the Deputy Mayor stressed at the session 'Accelerating Porto's decarbonisation', which took place at Porto Innovation HUb.

Filipe Araújo, who is also responsible for Environment and Climate Transition, once again stated the municipality's desire to 'lead by example with an objective plan capable of mobilising public and private institutions and Porto residents'.

Porto has been selected by the European Commission to join the group of 100 Smart Cities with a Climate Neutral Impact, consolidating its leadership at national and European level in climate action.

As part of its participation in this MissionCities, Porto recently submitted for evaluation its City Climate Contract, the integrated strategy for achieving the city's climate targets.

The commitments made by the Municipality, as well as the action plan and the investment plan, which reflect Porto's vision for 2030, were presented by Porto's Director for Carbon Neutrality, Daniel Freitas.

ASCEND and WAKE UP!, sustainable decarbonisation engines

Among the many initiatives promoted by the Porto Climate Pact, which already has hundreds of signatories, two projects have proved fundamental to the common target. At Porto Innovation Hub, Sílvia Sousa and Ana Silva presented the activities carried out by the local consortium during the first year of implementation of ASCEND (Accelerate Positive Clean Energy Districts).

The aim of the project is to accelerate positive energy urban areas, contributing to the health of cities, to inclusion and climate neutrality, and to boost the scalability of the development of cost-effective PCED (Positive, Clean Energy Districts) solutions.

The project, to be developed until 2028, has an overall budget of around EUR 25 million for a consortium of 39 beneficiaries from 14 different countries.

Ana Rita Barros, from the Carbon Neutrality department, presented WAKE UP! (Wider Approach to Keep Engaged citizens on sustainable Urban Policies), the municipality's pilot project to integrate technology and information to place citizens at the centre of climate action.

In addition to seeking to encourage more sustainable behaviours, the project aims to inspire other cities that want to increase their decarbonisation efforts.