Lisbon European Green Capital 2020

Saturday 11 January 2020  was a great day for Lisbon. The city officially became European Green Capital 2020, a title awarded each year by the European Commission to cities that have carried out ambitious and continuous measures in the field of sustainable development. Lisbon is the first capital in the south of Europe to bear this title.

So in practice, what did the Portuguese capital achieve that was so exemplary?

Below is an overview of Lisbon’s achievements so far, the program for 2020 and its commitment towards our planet.

 

1. Award winner Lisbon, a European example for the environment

 

Over the past ten years, the city has implemented a series of measures to minimize its impact on the environment:

• Development of green corridors and creation of hundreds of kilometers of cycle paths to promote ecological modes of transport. In 2017 Lisbon launched a bike-sharing scheme, with electric bikes comprising two thirds of the fleet to encourage cycling in the hillier parts of the city;
• Creation of a vast network of charging stations for electric vehicles;
• Gradual replacement of the municipal car fleet by electric vehicles (around 40% of the fleet has already gone green)
• 93.3% of people in Lisbon live within 300 m of a frequent public transport service;
• Extension of the planned tram lines and gradual replacement of the covering of metro seats with a cork-based composite material. After more than five years of testing, cork is much more durable and easy to clean;
• Lisbon was the first capital in Europe to sign the New Covenant of Mayors for Climate Change and Energy in 2016;
• By focusing on solar energy and the installation of smart electricity meters, Lisbon reduced its CO2 emissions by 50% between 2002 and 2014, and from 2007 to 2013  its water consumption was reduced by 17 % and its energy consumption by 23%;
• Finally,  Lisbon has created 350 hectares of green space in 10 years, and plans to plant more than 100,000 trees starting from 2020.

 

 

2. The program for 2020

 

With the slogan “choose to evolve” or “escolhe evoluir“, Lisbon’s green capital program is based on information, participation, appreciation, debates, and the active involvement of the entire community. As part of this new year for Lisbon, the city is organizing various exhibitions, conferences and free actions around the theme of the environment, among which:

• On January 11, everyone was invited to plant a tree in several areas of Lisbon, for example in Marvila, in   the Vale da Montanha park and in Alto de Ajuda. In total more then 20.000 trees were planted and more will follow along the year;
• The opening of the immersive photo exhibition “ONE, the sea as you never felt it“, at Lisbon’s Oceanarium;
• The inauguration of a new vertical garden for the Cultural Center in Belem of 17 m high and an area of 250 m2, scheduled for April 2020.
• The Urban Future Global Conference to be held on April 1-3, 2020. This conference is Europe’s largest event for sustainable cities, and the place where you will find the most inspiring “City Changers” from around the world;
• An exhibition about the importance of urban vegetable gardens planned from May 7;
• The promotion of Lisbon walking tours;
• Several discovery tours of the Monsanto Forest Park, 1000 ha green lung in the heart of the city and  the largest park of its kind in Europe.
• The promotion of serving tap water in participating restaurants .as an alternative for plastic bottles…

For the full, month by month, program please check Lisboa Green Capital 2020 – Program.

 

3. The Lisbon Commitment for Environment, Climate and Energy

 

For more detailed information about Lisbon’s commitment with the future please read https://lisboagreencapital2020.com/en/commitment/

Come and visit Lisbon to check out the beauty of Europe’s Green Capital 2020!

Contact us in case you need any help with planning your trip!