European Climate Pact demands action plan from Vila Nova de Gaia

Ambassadors of the European Climate Pact are calling on the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council to initiate a participatory process to develop a Municipal Climate Action Plan. The organization states that the municipality has been in legal non-compliance since December 2023, a deadline established by the Portuguese Climate Framework Law for all municipalities to have an approved and operational plan in place.

Geographer and European Climate Pact ambassador Mafalda Bastos de Moura emphasized that the lack of a formal plan hinders sectoral policies and leaves the territory vulnerable to rising sea levels, heatwaves, and extreme weather events. She noted that Gaia requires clear information, technical support, and, if necessary, planned relocation for families in high-risk zones. Bastos de Moura also criticized the lack of an integrated strategy, citing recent investments in leisure infrastructure, such as a new swimming pool, as examples of projects disconnected from climate adaptation needs.

The demand for action is supported by local residents who met on July 18 with the assistance of the Último Recurso Association to draft an open letter to the City Council. The Pact highlights the absence of an effective participatory process involving local communities, youth, and vulnerable groups in defining the municipality's climate strategies.