News

The projects selected under Call#1 have contributed to increasing the application of Circular Economy principles in production and consumption.

The Environment Programme will be in the International Conference “Energy and Climate Challenges of the Republic of Croatia” will be held from 13 until 14 April 2023. The event will take place in Hotel Kompas in Dubrovnik.

Access the new explanatory video of the project on Youtube.

Applications are now open for the new Clean Future accelerator program.

Last March 16th, at 2.30pm, the CircularBuild Project consortium organized and received more than 70 registered participants in the Closing Event of the Project

The CIECC is the culmination of the long work developed over more than 2 years of the ReBuild17 project, promoted by the Azores Government

The Elementary Schools Professor Agostinho da Silva, Luíza Neto Jorge and Manuel Teixeira Gomes win the 1st edition of the Beato Biobus School Competition.

The project Cascais Smart Pole by NOVA SBE was highlighted in the program "Europa Minha", broadcasted by RTP3.

The midterm evaluation of green programmes explores the coherence, efficiency, and potential effectiveness of green programming under the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Re:Costura - Do Velho se faz Novo Workshop took place on 18th February, at Nova SBE.

On February 1st, at Palácio Venças in Sintra, took place the Launch Conference of the Project "i4efficiency - Intelligent identifier for integration and logistics efficiency".

Last January 13th took place in Vila Franca de Xira, the IV Session of Technical Capacity Building.

The Closing Ceremony of the Além Risco Project took place on January 26th at the Garcia de Resende Theater in Évora.

Webinar #7 of the Oeste Adapta Project took place on January 25th, 2023. The initiative had the participation of the Norwegian Partner, Vestlandsforking.

Between Monday (January 23rd) and Wednesday (January 25th), a series of visits to projects of the Environment Program and the EEA Grants Blue Growth Program will take place.

You can now visit the fifth climate hero at Nova SBE: the American politician, businessman and environmentalist, Al Gore

Under the "i4efficiency - Intelligent identifier of integration and logistics efficiency" project, two areas integrated in the Sintra Parish Union and in the Parish Union of Massamá Monte Abraão, belonging to the Sintra municipality, will function as a living laboratory to test a model that aims to reduce the environmental footprint and increase the recycling of bio-waste.

The Algarve Tourism Region has launched a campaign to raise awareness among professionals in the sector for the adoption of simple actions, but that contribute to a more sustainable region.

Children from the municipality of Góis were eco reporters for a day. The investigative story "started from the project's main objectives, to increase the resilience of the indigenous flora and fauna to climate change and the rehabilitation of the river's infrastructure, as well as improving its connectivity.

The Open Call is now open for the LEPAC Artist Residency Program, an action of the SMILE Project - Sintra Motion & Innovation for Low Emissions, promoted and curated by zet gallery.

The CLIMA.AML project will have a significant impact on the collection and availability of meteorological data on a local scale, and on the evolution of the impacts and events resulting from climate change, which, progressively, have been registered with greater intensity in the metropolitan area of Lisbon.

Throughout the session it was possible to understand the main objectives met by the project and to understand the regional strategy developed for the reuse of construction products and components, as well as the recycling of construction and demolition waste (CDW).

The #fishingtheplastic project from Business as Nature, was the winner, in the Planet dimension, of the ODSlocal Award-Category Projects, 2022

The Environment Programme, represented by Susana Escária, Director of the Foresight and Planning Services of the Secretry General for the Environment, participated in the final event of the SECClass project, which took place at the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, on 12 December.

The Municipality of Sintra presented, in the Open Presidency in the Parish of Rio de Mouro, the program "SMILE - Sintra Motion & Innovation for Low Emissions" which is taking place in Tabaqueira neighbourhood.

This Monday, December 5th, Webinar #6 of the Oeste Adapta Project, financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area EEA Grants, took place. The initiative was attended by more than 30 Municipal Technicians from the West assigned to the Project.

Under the project "Management of the Ceira River Basin in the face of climate change" the partner CIM-RC promoted a visit to the works with the presence of the Norwegian Ambassador in Portugal, Tove Bruvik Westberg, the president of APA, Nuno Lacasta, Susana Escária of the General Secretariat of Environment and the National Management Unit of EEA Grants.

Awareness actions for the recycling of plastic packaging have already started. In the week of November 14th to 18th, the promoters visited Peniche, Alenquer and Torres Vedras.

The Environment Programme participated in the ‘Seminar on Climate Change Adaptation in Cities’ Seminar that took place in Warsaw

If you didn't get a chance to attend the event, review the 5th annual EEA Grants meeting here.

As part of the “OESTE + RECICLA” Project, financed by the EEA Grants, from November 14th until December 9th, awareness-raising actions will take place at the deposit machines for beverage packaging and cans.

A methodology was developed for the validation of the projects of the Call#4 - Implementation of pilot projects of living laboratories for decarbonization and mitigation of climate change, which aims to analyze the various activities of the project and the respective results, both from a technical point of view, and in terms of compliance with the project schedule, with corrective actions being proposed whenever necessary.

Within the scope of the EEA Grants Bilateral Relations Fund, the Environment Programme was present in the matchmaking held on November 8, at Sentralen, in Oslo.

This was an opportunity to make known this recent project to combat desertification, which covers 94 hectares of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, and to invite interested farmers to participate.

Porto Santo will host, on October 25 and 26, the fifth annual meeting of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

The deposit refund system for non-reusable beverage bottles and cans in the West Region came into operation today, which aims to increase the application of the principles of the circular economy in specific sectors, in production and consumption, through the implementation of a system of deposit and return of plastic bottles in all municipalities in the West Region.

As part of the project "Para cá do Marão, embalagens não!" the Vila Real City Hall inaugurated the first textile collection point in the county to recycle or reuse clothes.

The Project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não! within the scope of the actions foreseen in the Recycle section, acquired and installed an Children's Eco-Park built from recycled materials, mainly plastics, which is now available to all citizens.

The Seminar "Local adaptation to climate change" presents the results of the PLAAC - Arrábida project, which aims at elaborating local adaptation plans for the Setúbal, Sesimbra and Palmela municipalities.

The Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve recently promoted a workshop and a visit to Lagos, which involved municipal technicians and the Norwegian partners of the project AwK - Adaptation with Knowledge, Climate Change.

You can now visit two more pieces of Sustent'Arte at Nova SBE, an initiative that transforms waste collected from the sea and beaches into art.

From April 2021 to June 2022, 'MAFRA Reciclar a Valer +' managed to collect more than 2.5 million used beverage packages. In total, about 71 tons of packaging were sent for recycling, with the majority being PET plastic packaging (82%), and the rest, aluminum packaging (18%).

Contribute to a greater participation of citizens in the recycling process, rewarding them directly when they deposit aluminum and PET plastic containers up to 3 liters. It is based on this premise that has been developed the project "Mafra Recycle for Real +", a living laboratory of incentive systems, which culminated with the holding of an event at the Ecological and Intermodal Park of Venda do Pinheiro.

CONCEXEC hosts a Demonstration Event of the CircularBuild Project! On June 22nd, at 2:30pm, took place the Demonstration Event of the CircularBuild Project.

Following the event Rising up from Drought Together, held in the municipality of Mogadouro, in the context of the desertification and drought day 2022 that is marked today worldwide with the motto: "Overcoming Drought Together", the contracts of the EEA Grants Portugal Call#5 were signed.

Invasive species are one of the main threats to native biodiversity. Invasive plants grow and multiply uncontrollably, occupying the space of the typical plants of our territory, while invasive animals may be predators of native species or compete with them for habitat and available food.

The aim of this initiative is to demonstrate that artivism is a tool that gives a voice to artists who find in art the power of messages and who reach out to people, inspiring change. It is a cultural manifestation, and culture is also one of the pillars of sustainable development.

The Municipality of Vila Real, in partnership with the Civic Association of Training and Culture  (MUNDIS) and the IX International Festival of Theater and Performing Arts (FITAP) organize the XIII  International Symposium on Research in Art as part of the celebrations of Environment Week 2022.

Today was the day for the Norwegian team to visit the Trans Biosphere Reserve Gerês-Xurés and interact with local actors from the Portuguese side (Gerês) and the Spanish side (Xurés).

Under the Franc@d.PTação Project, regarding the Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PMAAC-VFX), the Vila Franca de Xira City is promoting technical training sessions, with groups considered fundamental for its implementation.

Municipal technicians, technicians from Local Safety and Security Authorities and local agents from Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra municipalities participated, in May, in two sessions aiming to build, through collaborative methodologies, the territorial measures that will integrate the Local Climate Adaptation Plans (PLAAC- Arrábida).

The operational team of the project "Para cá do Marão, embalagens, não!", in close collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Team Innovate for Success (EMIS), prepared a set of activities for the school public with the circular economy theme and the 5 R's policy - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink and Recycle.

A field trip to the Boquilobo Paul Biosphere Reserve took place on May 31st with the objective of strengthening bilateral relations between Portugal and Norway and to make known the Portuguese Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The iREC pilot project was awarded the "Escoba de Oro" by the Spanish association ATEGRUS. This project was the first beverage container return system to introduce the incentive modality in Portugal.

Video promotes a new phase of the projects "Quando do Velho se Faz Novo" and "Bebidas+Circular" promoted by APED/APIAM/PROBEB

The orca-shaped bottle project, developed by João Mendes, former student of the Integrated Design Master's course of the School of Technology and Management (ESTG) of the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo (IPVC), won the international Green Product Award, in the consumer goods category. The award is delivered in a ceremony in Munich, Germany, next May 18th.

In the middle of spring, when temperatures start to rise all across the country, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area will install 16 micro-meteorological sensors to study urban heat island effects in eight green spaces of the region.

On May 3, 2022, it took place the synergies between the Environment Programme and the Blue Growth Programme – Circular Economy and reduction of marine litter

A very special recreational area for children, in Loures has been created.

Six machines are in operation since April 21st, allowing the University of Aveiro (UA) ID card holders to be reimbursed for each plastic bottle or can deposited. The machines are available in several points of the UA campi.

This initiative had the mission of challenging the local community to know or revisit the natural and human heritage of the council, through the sharing of photographs under the motto "The River and the Man", more specifically the path of the Ceira River in the council of Góis.

In an activity included in the project "Cuidar Braga II", Braga City Council performed two actions of awareness and dissemination in Eco Schools EB1 Trigal Santa Maria and EB2/3 of Celeirós, promoting a demonstration of the use of a bio-shredder.

Deposit system with return to the consumer is the first in the country whose reward system is fully financed by commercial establishments.

The CircularBuild Project launched its fourth newsletter in March.

Digital continuity throughout the life cycle of constructions is this year the central theme of this event.

As a way of commemorating World Water Day, the Municipality of Vila Real, through the Vila Real Science Center, developed a campaign to raise awareness of the responsible use of water in all schools in the municipality, a natural resource of high value for the sustainability of the planet.

On March 9, the consignment notice for an intervention of more than 400 thousand euros was celebrated to rehabilitate the riverside ecosystems of the river Ceira. In the municipality of Arganil, the project provides for the rehabilitation of the riverfront between the town of Malhada and the stream of Adela, in the Union of Parishes of Cepos and Teixeira, over a length of 6.2 km.

On 21st and 22nd March 2022, under the scope of the project "Climate Change Adaptation in Vila Nova de Poiares", took place the second meeting of stakeholders with the Norwegian partner NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research.

The meeting took place at the Auditorium of the Adão Barata Park Building (PAB) in Loures. It is the first of a series of dynamic sessions with this Working Group, in the scope of the PAB_LivingLab – Vive a Descarbonização no Parque Adão Barata project.

The main climate hazards that may affect the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra until the end of the century were presented by the partners of the PLAAC - Arrábida project to the managers of several areas of these municipalities in a session aimed at their involvement in the construction of the Local Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change.

As part of the 9th European Summit of Cities and Regions, organized by the European Committee of the Regions, which takes place in Marseille on the 3rd and 4th of March, the Municipality of Mafra is participating in the virtual fair to publicize projects of good practices in areas such as resilience and innovation, democracy and youth.

The project “PAB_LivingLab – Vive a Decarbonização no Parque Adão Barata”, financed by the EEA Grants, launches a Sustainable Waste Management Plan (PGSR). It aims to improve the current waste collection system at Parque Adão Barata (PAB) by installing containers to deposit waste oil, corks, batteries and books.

As part of the 'Cuidar Braga II' Project, financed by the EEA GRANTS – Environment Program, the Municipality of Braga signed a protocol with the Associação Florestal do Cávado, one of the 42 entities that signed this document regarding the project to combat forest fires and protect of nature, people and goods.

The Municipality of Vila Real, through the Science Center, within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!” and in conjunction with the mission for Environmental Education, promotes, between the 14th and 25th of March, a campaign to raise awareness of the sustainability of a natural resource of high value for the sustainability of the planet – the water.

Municipal technicians and Technicians of Local Authorities for Protection and Safety of the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra participated yesterday, February 23rd, 2022, in the School of Technology of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, in the first capacity building workshop under the project PLAAC - Arrábida (Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans).

Under the EEA Grants Environment Programme, the “Bottle to Bottle: Top Quality PET for the circular economy of plastic bottles in Portugal” project aims to increase the recycling of plastic bottles for the production of recycled PET flakes from high quality.

As part of its promotion and dissemination activities, new uniforms were designed and produced, namely reflective vests, high-visibility coats, lab coats, sweats and T-shirts, which aim to give greater visibility to the project in a work context.

On the 23rd and 25th of February, the second webinar of the INOVSEA project will take place, which will be broadcast online. This webinar is themed “Circular Models in the Economy of the Sea” and will unfold into two subtopics: “Circular Economy - Concepts and Practices” and “Tools to Support the Transition to the Circular Economy”.

After the free distribution of 10 thousand reusable bottles in all Higher Schools, Social Services, and Central Services, last November, and the installation of nine refilling stations for the entire academic community of the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, now, at the beginning of the second semester and until March 31, various awareness-raising activities will be carried out within the scope of the Refill_H2O project.

This solution will allow for the disposal, sharing and recovery of end-of-life garments, in a physical and virtual space, creative reuse and recycling.

From February 16th to 21st, the iRec Project will have environmental promoters at the machines to present iREC and clarify the operation of return machines for beverage packaging.

The project "Biosphere Reserves: Sustainable Territories, Resilient Communities" was in Santana for a series of activities related to the theme. The program included collecting memories from the population residing in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, an awareness-raising action, and a workshop.

One of the innovative practical cases addressed was the recovery of waste in obtaining new materials/components, which is being developed by Circular2B.

One million beverage packages were collected, 70 tons sent for recovery, and 1.2 million CityPoints awarded. This is the balance of one year of the iREC – Inovar a Reciclagem project, which, since January 2021, has been testing a model of a Deposit System with Return in Cascais.

“Bebidas+Circulares” project begins a new phase: beverage packages returned at collection points are now worth points that can be exchanged for prizes

Embracing digitalization requires will, commitment, knowledge and ambition to see ahead. GrowingCircle has been developing actions that aim to expand and consolidate knowledge for the digitization of processes with direct impacts on sustainability, namely through more circular practices. In magazine #198, the GrowingCircle Project publishes another article that shows how different concepts are, in fact, "on the same side of the same coin."

Two weirs on the Ceira River, namely the Vale Pardeiro and Poço da Cesta, were repaired to prevent flooding. The regularization works of this river, designated as “Ceira River Fluvial Rehabilitation - Hydraulic Works”, are part of the project “Management of the Ceira River Basin in adapted to a Changing Climate”.

The Municipality of Vila Real, within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!”, after 8 months of installing 20 binary structures for the collection of chewing gum and cigarette butts, structures called “EcoPontas” and “PapaChicletes”, launch a video, with different purposes.

The initiative developed within the scope of the project “Management of the Ceira River Basin in adapted to a Changing Climate”, aims to challenge the local community to know or revisit the natural and human heritage of the county.

The National Biosphere Reserves Olympics (ONRB), within the scope of the project “Biosphere Reserves: sustainable territories, resilient communities”, aims to promote knowledge and dissemination of nature conservation and sustainable development.

On January 20th, Webinar #4 – Priority Vulnerable Territories will take place within the scope of the project Adapta.Local.CIMAC - Planning of Municipal Climate Adaptation in Alentejo Central.

Third webinar of the Oeste Adapta Project aims to assess future impacts and vulnerabilities of the West territory.

The SECClasS (Sustainability Enhanced Construction Classification System) Project was presented at the SMART APPLICATIONS workshop organized by ISTAR at the Portugal Smart Cities Summit 2021.

Within the scope of Pre-Defined Project 1, "Regulation of the deposit system for beverage packaging in plastic, glass, ferrous materials and aluminum" (PDP-1), two more foreseen activities were carried out on 30 November and 2 December as a result of the visit of the representatives of Innovation Norway (IN) to Portugal. The status of the development of PDP-1 was discussed.

The project's website financed by the EEA Grants was launched on December 15th and is now available for consultation in Portuguese and English versions

It should be noted that the IPVC Refill H2O is a project financed by EEA Grants, under the Small Grants Scheme #1 - Projects for the prevention and awareness of marine litter reduction.

On the 17th of November, the GrowingCircle project carried out yet another dissemination action, the workshop Data Templates – Awareness (Introductory Concepts), thus starting a process of competences certification on knowledge and use of Data Templates.

The final seminar of the project CLOSER "Pre-demolition audits – Step by step" was held on 22 November 2021. A total of 161 attendees participated in this hybrid event.

The pilot project, Refill H2O, coordinated by IPVC researcher António Curado, will remove annually, from the six IPVC Higher Schools, more than one ton of single-use plastic bottles.

With this action, the project also touches its fifth objective, in the scope “RETHINKING”, insofar as it enhances the reflection on the benefits of drinking tap water, rewarding the school community that throughout the school year focused on issues of Circular Economy at School.

The final seminar of the CLOSER Project, "Pre-Demolition Audits: Step by Step", took place on November 22, 2021, in a hybrid format.

On October 28, the first action of removal of invasive alien species was carried out at Quinta de Recreio do Marquês de Pombal, under the project "21_SGS#3_More Pollinators, More Biodiversity in the Municipality of Oeiras", and it was open to the local community.

This Workshop aims to provide information and initial training regarding metadata structures to support information in construction, or Data Templates according to the ISO 23387 standard.

Last October 16, the Autumn Bioblitz was held at Quinta de Recreio do Marquês de Pombal.

The invasive species removal initiative took place on October 28th at 9am next to Casa da Pesca - Quinta de Cima do Marquês de Pombal

The iREC project – Innovating recycling in just nine months has already collected more than 600 thousand plastic, aluminum or glass beverage containers.

The public presentation event of Afurada Living Lab project will take place on October 28, at 4 pm, at the Afurada Heritage Interpretation Center (CIPA), in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The first Monitoring Committee of Afurada Living Lab project will take place on October 28, at 5pm, at the Afurada Heritage Interpretation Center (CIPA), in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Between 21st of September and 6th of October, the amateur photography, video and painting competition took place on the island of Porto Santo.

The E-REDES project is implementing an unprecedented pilot study, where fishing nets are made from a biodegradable resin, specifically designed for the manufacture of monofilaments to be used in fishing nets, are provided to the local fishing community.

On October 18th, at 9:50 am (Portugal), the Webinar #1 - Climate Sensitivity Assessment of the Oeste Adapta Project will take place, financed through the Environment Program of the EEA Grants, operated in Portugal by the General Secretariat for the Environment, of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action. The initiative aims to review the Project's status and analyze municipal climate risks. The Municipal Technicians of the departments of urbanism, environment and civil protection in the West Region will be therefore divided into 3 virtual rooms.

The call for Projects for climate change-related extreme weather preparedness and risk management has an available allocation of € 1 229 858 and a time horizon of 18 months, with a deadline on January 18, 2022.

On September 22, the E-REDES project was the subject of a report in the “Viver aqui” program broadcasted on Oporto TV channel, dedicated to the theme of biodegradable fishing nets production and distribution.

The UAveiroGreenBuilding project aims to create a methodology that allows the application of the Sustainability and Circular Economy principles in construction and renovation.

The Municipality of Arganil promotes, until the 30th of September, the digital photography contest «à Beira do Ceira@Arganil».

Inauguration of Cascais Smart Pole by Nova SBE, the first decarbonization living lab in Cascais, on September 9, 2021 at 6 pm, at Navigator Park in Nova SBE.

For the 4th of September, the event was designed: “Para cá do Marão Planeta são!” with activities throughout the afternoon, along Avenida Carvalho Araújo.

This project, funded by EEA Grants, supported by the Intermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, aims to involve citizens in planting fifty thousand trees in urban agglomerations in the district of Évora, reducing the "heat island" effect they create. The public presentation of the Além Risco project in Redondo will take place on 7th September at 6.30pm in the Public Garden. For Redondo, Évora, until January 2023, it is planned to plant 3000 trees, of which around 1300 will be given to citizens and entities to be distributed through the "Eu Quero Árvores" campaign, which is planned to start this autumn on dates yet to be announced.

On September 9, 2021, under the project "Adaptation to Climate Change in Vila Nova de Poiares", the first meeting of stakeholders will take place in order to collect relevant information for the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Municipality of Vila Nova de Poiares, as well as to guarantee the participation of all, providing a democratic space for exchanging ideas and building consensus.

The Municipality of Vila Real, within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!” installed and inaugurated on August 19, five Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) in stores retailers adhering to the project: Auchan, Continente, Intermarché e Pingo Doce (Lordelo e Miguel Torga).

On August 27th, at 6:30pm at the Jardim do Rocio, the public presentation of the project Além Risco will take place in Viana do Alentejo. As a symbolic gesture, a tree will be offered to each participant.

The Final Event of the Circular Buildings Project takes place on September 8th, at 10:00 am. In this session, a balance of the work developed throughout the project will be carried out, as well how the created tools will be presented. To this end, it will have the presence of representatives of the project's partner entities.

On August 20th, at 6:30pm in the Complexo Desportivo da Manizola, the public presentation of the project Além Risco will take place in Arraiolos. As a symbolic gesture, a tree will be offered to each participant. By January 2023, it is expected that 3000 trees will be planted in Arraiolos: in articulation with the municipality and through the offer to citizens and entities, to be distributed through the campaign "Quero Árvores", which is planned to begin this autumn on dates yet to be announced.

The signing of the consignment document for the contract for the Rio Ceira Rehabilitation Project – Hydraulic Works, in Casal Novo, municipality of Arganil, took place on August 11th. The ceremony was promoted by the Municipality of Arganil, in collaboration with the CIM Region of Coimbra, and was attended by the vice-president of the board of directors of the APA, Pimenta Machado.

On August 12th, at 6:30pm in the Jardim Municipal, the public presentation of the project Além Risco took place in Mourão. As a symbolic gesture, a tree was offered to each participant.

On World Nature Conservation Day, the Porto Santo Without Marine Garbage campaign presents João and Tristão, the mascots of the “Porto Santo Without Marine Garbage” campaign that will appeal to residents and visitors to help protect the island's biodiversity by reducing plastic waste.

This project, funded by EEA Grants, supported by the Intermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, aims to involve citizens in planting fifty thousand trees in urban agglomerations in the district of Évora, reducing the "heat island" effect they create. On August 11th, at 6:30pm in the Mata Municipal, the public presentation of the project Além Risco will take place in Estremoz. As a symbolic gesture, a tree will be offered to each participant.

The project PLAAC - Arrábida, funded by the EEA Grants Environment Programme, aims at preparing the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra to face the challenges of climate change through the elaboration of three local adaptation plans, contributing to increase the resilience and response capacity of these municipalities. Although climate change has a global scope, the success of facing this challenge depends on the capacity to concretise adaptation plans in a local context. In this sense, ENA conceives the elaboration of these plans as a participative process that involves the key actors of the local community and thus has organised this week the second capacity building and awareness raising action for local organisations, aimed at creating a Local Stakeholders Network that actively participates in the process of elaboration of Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans.

Since April 27, 2021, 12 collection solutions for empty beverage packaging have been available under the project ‘MAFRA Reciclar a Valer +’, promoted by Mafra City Council. More information at www.cm-mafra.pt/p/mafrareciclaravalermais. The ‘MAFRA Reciclar a Valer +’ project is supported by 756 thousand euros through the Environment Program of the EEA Grants Portugal, a Multiannual Financial Mechanism between the European Economic Area and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

In a free online event, the Portal of Sustainable Construction wil carry out an information session about its latest project - the creation of an environmental label for construction products – which is based on procedures for developing Type I environmental labeling programs (ISO 14024) to assess and demonstrate their compliance with the sustainability of building materials.

The initiative aims to promote technical training in methods of identification and analysis of climate sensitivity, vulnerability assessment and identification of priority vulnerable territories.

The webpage of the project PLAAC - Arrábida, promoted by ENA – Energy and Environment Agency of Arrábida, in partnership with the Municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra, the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT, University of Lisbon) and the NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT, NOVA University Lisbon) is already available. Hosted in www.plaac.ena.com.pt, this online space intends to be a suitable channel to communicate with the general public and, namely, with the local community where PLAAC - Arrábida is inserted, making the project known, sharing the development of the different associated tasks and showing the results of the climate adaptation plans elaborated for the three municipalities.

Within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!”, reusable bottles were distributed to the entire school community participating in the project, in order to encourage the consumption of tap water. This initiative is included in the commemoration of Environment Week that the Municipality of Vila Real celebrates annually.

The CLOSER - Close to Resources Recovery project, funded by EEA Grants Portugal, aims to develop and implement a Portuguese guide for pre-demolition and/or rehabilitation audits of buildings.

In the World Ocean’s Day, was presented to the public - a restricted audience due to Covid 19 limitations - the artistic installation “Plastic Islands”, made of 24 spherical structures covered with plastic and other waste. This is a time metaphor for the 24 hours of the day, during which we can reduce the amount of plastic that we throw into the Oceans.

This webinar, on June 23rd 15h30, will focus on the methodology for the integration of BIM with environmental and circularity assessment. The consortium will present on overview of the latest activities and provide a first insight into the digital twin platform and the BIM software plugin for the calculation of circularity. Sign up for the webinar here: https://www.eventbrite.pt/e/webinar-developing-a-methodology-for-bim-based-circularity-assessment-tickets-158705916669

The Oeste Intermunicipal Community will hold the Initial Seminar of the Oeste Adapta Project on June 15, 2021, at 10:00 am. Due to the current pandemic situation and subsequent mobility restrictions, this Seminar will be conducted by videoconference. The initiative aims to sensitize the regional community and present the Project, as well as local adaptation experiences to climate change. You can formalize your registration here: https://apportugal.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuf-yhqDsrHdYxg5Wp78cEempl5ahChJNa

As part of Environment Week, the “Circular Economy in Schools” seminar was held at the Municipal Theater, where all the Vila Real School Groups and the Nervir Professional School were represented.

More than 150 volunteers collected around 1.35 tonnes of marine litter on the beaches and riverside areas of Esposende municipality, from the northern limit of the municipality, Foz do Rio Neiva, in Antas, to Ramalha beach, in Apúlia.

The EEA Grants Oeste Adapta Project - Municipal Climate Adaptation Planning in the West Region, promoted, on May 31st, between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm, the first Technical Training Workshop to present the methodological program of the Municipal Climate Change Adaptation Plans, the structure of the training program and identification of information needs.

On the 27th of May, ENA organised, within the project PLAAC - Arrábida (Local Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change), the first capacity building and awareness raising action for local organisations.

The Municipality of Vila Real, in project: "Para cá do Marão embalagens não!" will hold the Seminar "Circular Economy in Schools " on June 5, at 9:00 am, at the Municipal Theater of Vila Real.

On May 31st, at 10 am, the first workshop of the Oeste Adapta Project - Municipal Climate Adaptation Planning in the West Region will be held. The activity will be centered on the presentation of the methodology to be followed for the elaboration of the municipal adaptation plans of each of the municipalities that form the West Region.

On May 14, 2021, Friday, starting at 10:00 am, will take place (in videoconference) the public presentation event and participatory session of the project Municipal Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change of the municipality of Almodôvar.

The E-REDES project website is now online at www.e-redes.esposende.pt, were you can stay updated with the project developments.

The UAveiroGreenBuilding Project launched its first newsletter in April. In this first edition you can find information about the project, its promoter and partners.

On the 4th of May, Tuesday, at 10: 00h, the webinar will take place whose theme will be dedicated to «Circular Economy & Regenerative Tourism», organized by the Tellus - Rethinking Tourism project.

The MAFRA Reciclar a Valer + project, led by the Municipality of Mafra since April 27, has 12 packaging collection solutions accessible to all citizens.

The Mafra City Council leads the ‘MAFRA Reciclar a Valer +’ project to encourage the selective disposal of beverage packaging.

Within the scope of the “Porto Santo Sem Lixo Marinho” project and during this week, which runs from April 17 to 22, 2021, a cleaning campaign was organized in coastal areas of the island, which may extend to streams and other spaces that contribute to the accumulation of potential marine litter

On Earth Day, the first event organized by the Tellus project was presented. This is a webinar in a round table format, the objective of which was the dissemination of 5 projects and services in the field of Circular Economy, in order to bring together to enhance inter-business and inter-individual collaborations.

The SECClasS Webinar "Classification System for Circular Construction: Options for Portugal" will take place on April 28, 2021 between 10:30 am and 12:15 pm (Lisbon), in a joint organization of LNEC with ISCTE-IUL, the University of Minho, Marta Campos Arquitetos and the atelier A-Lab.

The second part of the seminar began with the presentation of PLAAC - Arrábida project, coordinated by ENA, will provide the municipalities of Setúbal, Sesimbra and Palmela with local climate change adaptation plans.

ENA organized a seminar to reflect on the climate affections in the Arrábida territory and present the project for the preparation of local climate adaptation plans (PLAAC - Arrábida) for the municipalities of Setúbal, Sesimbra and Palmela.

On the 21st of April 2021, will take place the public presentation, online, of the project “Adaptation to Climate Change in Vila Nova de Poiares”.

The Closer Project, financed by the EEA Grants through the Small Grants Scheme # 2 of the Environment Programme, developed a survey to collect contributions for the Portuguese Guide for Pre-Demolition and / or Building Rehabilitation Audits.

Ended the period of consultation of the population on the location of the drinking fountains of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!”, the Municipality of Vila Real gives notice of the five places where they will be installed, following the vote until February 22nd.

The Municipality of Vila Real, within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!” installed 20 binary structures for the collection of chewing gum and cigarette butts.

Last Sunday, the project Além Risco was presented within the scope of World Tree and Forest Day.

March 18th marks Global Recycling Day. The Environment Program presents some of its projects within the scope of deposit refund systems for beverage bottles and cans.

Funding from the Environment Programme for adaptation to climate change aims to promote the good environmental status of ecosystems and reduce the adverse effects of pollution and other human activities.

Yesterday took place the CircularBuild Project Launch Event: “Circularity applied to prefabricated modular construction”, supported by the EEA Grants Environment Programme.

The Municipality of Cascais will organize a series of online conversations, entitled “Ambiente Cascais Live”, starting on February 18th, at 5 pm.

The project will elaborate Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans for the Portuguese municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra .

The Municipality of Vila Real, within the scope of the project “Para cá do Marão embalagens não!” will listen to the population about the location of new drinking fountains in the city, until February 22, 2021.

Between 12 and 15 January, the second campaign for the removal and quantification of marine litter on the beaches of the municipality of Esposende took place.

The objectives and results of the Rebuild 17 project will be publicly presented in digital format on February 4th. There will also be a debate on waste originating in construction.

The Launch Event of the Circular Buildings project will take place on February 2nd, which aims to make the public presentation of the project, and the panel will have representatives from partner entities, promoting the discussion of its objectives.

The iREC project of the Environment Program, financed by EEAGrants, was presented at Cascais Town Market. This pioneering project anticipates the future mandatory implementation of these systems in Portugal as early as 2022.

The iREC project consists of the implementation of a pilot project that encourages citizens to return beverage packages to one of 10 machines distributed in the municipality of Cascais.

On November 26, the Environment Programme challenged its Project Promoters to submit a proposal for a representative image of their Project.

Today, at the Secretary General for Environment, projects from the Environment Program financed by the EEA Grants were presented, dedicated to the theme: Projects to strengthen adaptation to climate change at the local level.

On December 21st, a presentation event for Projects of Local Adaptation of the EEA Grants Environment Programme will be held via streaming, at the premises of Secretary General of Environment.

On December 3, CIMBAL presented the project financed by the EEA Grants Environment Program, “(De) Construct for the Circular Economy”.

The Circular EcoBIM project aims to create a set of BIM based tools to enable a circular construction model.

As of today it’s easier and more affordable to recycle beverage bottles in Lisbon. The Portuguese capital now has 11 more automatic return machines, installed in the stores of APED associates such as Continente, Pingo Doce, Lidl Portugal, Auchan Retail Portugal and El Corte Inglés, and also at the Municipal Market of Benfica.

The Fishing The Plastic project, promoted by Business as Nature in partnership with the Municipality of Ovar and financed by the Environment Programme of the EEA Grants, includes initiatives aimed at women in the fishing community. The contest “Redes nas Redes” will run between December and May 2021.

The RefillH20 Project was presented at the 2nd Sustainable Campus Conference 2020 (CCS2020) organized by the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. This project aims to drastically reduce, in the six IPVC schools, their bars, canteens and academic residences, the sale of water bottles in plastic packaging, thus promoting the application of the principles of circular economy, by reducing the use of plastic materials and the respective production of waste.

CirMat - CIRcular aggregates for sustainable road and building MATerials, a project that contributes to the development of innovative materials according to the principles of Circular Economy, will be presented on November 24th via streaming

The E-Redes project is a pilot study promoted by the Municipality, in partnership with the municipal company Esposende Ambiente, the University of Minho and the Environmental Association - Rio Neiva, which aims at implementing a pilot study in the Marine Protected Area of the Northern Littoral Marine Park, were degradable gillnets and trammel nets will be provided to the fishing community in an unprecedented pilot test.

The Sustainable Value project comprises a service with a strong capacity for penetration and acceptance in the market associated with sustainable construction and circular economy

“Há Rio E Mar, Há Lixo Para Transformar” was publicly presented on June 19, on an event presenting the Prevention and Awareness Raising projects for the reduction of marine litter, at the Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões

Last Wednesday, November 4, the first of nine campaigns for the collection, quantification and classification of discarded marine litter on the coast of Esposende began, one of several actions to be carried out under the E-REDES project.

The Environment Programme was present at the clarification session, which took place online due to the conditions caused by the pandemic covid-19, where the present financing opportunities were presented.

Development of building components applied in modular construction, incorporating Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) and slag.

CirMat - CIRcular aggregates for sustainable road and building MATerials - project, promoted by the construction company DST SA, was one of the projects selected by the Secretary General for Environment, within the scope of the competition to promote the circular economy in construction, under the EEA Grants Environment Programme.

Concexec, LNEC and Cluster Habitat, in partnership with the Norwegian Laboratory RISE, implement a project to promote Circular Economy in the construction sector by reducing materials and waste production.

The first equipment planned to enhance the Project's laboratory capacity is already in use.

The project is financed by the EEA Grants financial mechanism and results from the cooperation between the Azorean Government, through the Regional Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LREC), Fibrenamics Azores, through the Advanced Products Materials Innovation Center (CIMPA), and the Icelandic company ReSource International.

At the Portugal Smart Cities Summit 2020, there was a presentation of projects from the Environment Programme financed by the EEA Grants, dedicated to the theme: Increased application of the Circular Economy principles in the Construction sector.

On the 23rd, the morning part of the Portugal Smart Cities Summit 2020 event will be dedicated to the Circular Economy theme: Increased application of circular economy principles in the Construction sector, with presentation of projects financed by the EEA Grants.

The project National Roadmap for Adaptation 2100 – Portuguese Territorial Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for XXI Century (RNA 2100) has the objective to estimate the economic sectors costs to adapt to expected 2100 Climate Changes impacts.

In view of the urgent measures to contain Covid-19 Pandemic, the Environment Programme announces that the deadline for submitting applications to the Call#4 has been extended.

The Fishing the Plastic project's waste collection initiative aims to raise awareness of the urgent need to reduce plastic in the oceans.

The project “C+D: Close the loop by Disclosing the benefits of buildings' deconstruction and materials re-use” aims to create a web-based platform to calculate the economic and environmental benefits associated to the processes of deconstruction of buildings and of reuse of construction and demolition wastes (CDW, or C+D wastes).

This project aims to develop decision support tools to promote the increase of material reuse and the reduction in waste production in the Construction sector.

Ecoibéria - Reciclados Ibericos presented the objectives of its project “Bottle to Bottle: Top Quality PET for the circular economy of plastic bottles in Portugal” within the scope of the Call# 1of the Environment Programme.

One of the project’s aims is to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduction of the incentive program, supporting decision-making regarding the transition to the new mandatory deposit system.

Developed by Cascais Environment in partnership with New Faculty SBE, the iREC Project presents an innovative approach that unites retailers, collection services, research centers and companies in the waste sector for the management of single-use packaging, with the aim of increasing its correct routing, as well as its recycling.

The objective of the Oeste + Recicla Project consists in the implementation of a system for depositing and returning plastic bottles in all Municipalities in the West Region based on a refund system.

Intermunicipal Community of the West creates a Project with the Norwegian partner Empower to implement a deposit system for packaging of non-reusable drinks in the 12 Municipalities of the West.

The project approved for the Azores under the Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy Programme of the EEA Grants, which was proposed by the Regional Environment Directorate, aims to implement a system for depositing non-reusable drinks packaging with a value of around 942,000 euros.

Within the general objectives of the EEA Grants reducing economic and social disparities in Europe and in strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with donor countries, the Project aims to improve resilience and the capacity to respond to climate change in selected areas, through concrete measures to adapt to climate change, at the local level.

The Business as Nature Fishing the Plastic project is one of the six winning projects in the "Small Grants Scheme - Projects for the prevention and awareness raising for the reduction of marine waste", funded by the EEA Grants Environment Programme, which received 24 applications. The project was presented in partnership with the Municipality of Ovar.

Refill H2O IPVC is a project funded by EEA Grants under the Small Grants Scheme #1 - Projects for the prevention and awareness of marine waste reduction.

8 projects and expected results were presented within the scope of Call# 1 of the EEA Grants Environment Programme.

On the 24th of July there will be an event to present the Pilot Projects for the Deposit Refund System for drinks bottles and cans at the Congress Center Alfândega Porto.

The E-REDES project, promoted by the municipality of Esposende in partnership with the Municipal Company Esposende Environment consists of providing biodegradable nets to the local fishing community, to assess the contribution of this initiative in reducing ghost fishing and introducing synthetic plastic material into the ocean.

The application submitted by LIPOR and IPDJ, under the Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy Programme 'Environment Programme', of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 - Small Grants Scheme # 1 - Projects for the prevention and awareness raising for the reduction of marine waste, was one of the 6 winners, among the 24 applications submitted.

Six projects were presented, focusing on the themes of increasing application of circular economy principles in reducing marine waste and promoting environmental awareness.

An event will be held on June 19, at the Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões to present the Prevention and Awareness raising projects for the reduction of marine waste

A technical visit was made by a Portuguese delegation to Oslo between 22 and 24 January 2020, to know the main factors for the success of this system.

The deadline for submitting applications to Call#4 has been extended

Between 22 and 24 January 2020, a technical visit was made by a Portuguese delegation to Oslo, to exchange ideas on the regulation of the deposit system for packaging plastic, glass, ferrous metals and aluminum.

Six projects were approved for the prevention and awareness raising for the reduction of marine waste within the scope of the Small Grants Scheme # 1 with a total allocation of one million euros

The deadline for submitting applications to Call#3, Call#4 and Small Grant Scheme#3 of Environment Programme have been extended.

The Open Innovation Conference in Portugal, which will take place on March 4 at Porto Business School, is an event promoted under the SIAC - Knowledge Transfer Initiative, co-financed by COMPETE 2020, through Portugal 2020 and the European Regional Development Fund.

The Matchmaking event of Environment Programme in Lisbon, dedicated to low carbon solutions, brought together about 50 participants.

Promotion of bilateral project partnerships between entities established in Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, on the application of innovative low carbon solutions, on February 13th, at the premises of the Secretary General for Environment and Climate Action.

Launching of the call in the scope of projects promoting Circular Economy principles in production and consumption.

The matchmaking event “Living Labs for Low Carbon and Climate Change Mitigation” will take place on February 13th, at the premises of the Secretary General for Environment and Climate Action

January 31st is the deadline for submitting applications for the Call#1 - Deposit refund system for beverage bottles and cans.

The Contract of the Pre-Defined Project was signed, on December 18th, at the ARH Center Auditorium of the Portuguese Environment Agency, in Coimbra.

On December 18, the Contract of the Pre-Defined Project will be signed, at the ARH Center Auditorium of the Portuguese Environment Agency, in Coimbra.

Matchmaking event design to the promotion of bilateral project partnerships between entities established in Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, on the application of innovative low carbon solutions

The Environment Programme will finance a total allocation of 2,650,000 euros, projects relevant to the adaptation plan or strategy or to the sectorial policies or plan at a local level to be developed

The Environment Programme will finance with a total allocation of 2,200,000 euros, a project that must cover the 11 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves existing on the date of the publication of this Call.

Extension of the deadline for submission of applications for Call#1 Deposit refund system for beverage bottles and cans

Presentation of the objectives and characteristics of the Environment Program to Startups and Incubators.

This meeting is part of the Bilateral Relations Fund initiatives between the Programme Operator of the Programme Environment and its Donor Programme Partner, Innovation Norway.

Launching of the call in the scope of projects promoting Circular Economy principles in production and consumption

Launching of the first Calls of the Environment Program to promote Circular Economy and development of standards in the Construction Sector, and prevention and awareness for the Reduction of Marine Litter.

Conference and matchmaking dedicated to promote partnerships or funding between Norwegian and international entities, researchers and socio-economic agentes, for projects in the field of Circular Economy.

The Programme Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy, funded by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism - EEA Grants 2014-2021, presented on May 29 at the Auditorium of the Directorate-General for Territory.

On May 29th, the Programme Environment financed by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism - EEA Grants 2014-2021, will be publicly presented at the Auditorium of the Directorate General for Territory.

The portuguese 11 biosphere reserves, the Secretary General for the Environment and Energy Transition and the Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) signed yesterday, May 14th, a protocol providing 2.2 million euros for the promotion and valorisation of the Reserves.

On May 14th will take place in the Noble Hall of Castelo Branco City Hall, the signing session of the collaboration protocol for the Portuguese Biosphere Reserves.

The Secretary General for Environment and Energy Transition, as programme operator of the ‘Environment Programme’, was present in Ponta Delgada, on March 27th, for a briefing session promoted by the National Management Unit of the EEA Grants

The Secretary General for Environment and Energy Transition was present in Funchal for a briefing session regarding financing opportunities of the Financial Mechanism of European Economic Area for Portugal.

The Secretary General for Environment and Energy Transition and the Donor Programme Partner, Innovation Norway, held on February 28th, at the Secretary General premises, a Matchmaking Event in the area of Circular Economy.

Matchmaking event design to the promotion of bilateral project partnerships between entities established in Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, on the application of circular economy in key areas.

Matchmaking event design to the promotion of bilateral project partnerships between entities established in Portugal, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, on the application of circular economy in key areas.

Participation of Secretary General at the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-21 at the Kick-off Conference for the Environment Programme, supported by Norway's Environment Agency (NEA).

On the 13th of November an information meeting took place at Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP) headquarters, in Lisbon, with the purpose of introducing the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021.

The initiative, organized by the program operator, the Secretary General of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Transition, took place between October 8 and 12, with the presence of Carlos Martins, Secretary of State for the Environment.

The funding priorities of the Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy Programme were presented at the 'Portugal Shipping Week' in Lisbon.

The Norwegian Ambassador visited the Ceira River Basin in the Central Region of the Country, where the EEA Grants Environment project “Rio Ceira” will be developed.

The National Management Unit and the Secretary General accompanied the Secretary of State for the Environment, Carlos Marins, in a preliminary visit to Ceira’s River Basin regarding the implementation of the Pre-Defined Project.

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Action said, this Thursday, that the decree-law on the generalization of the deposit of packaging with return should be published by the end of the year.