Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga, is one of the speakers at the sixth edition of Nordic Edge Expo, the most important event on smart cities in Northern Europe, which this year takes place digitally.
The event is broadcast from various stages across Europe, while allowing parallel sessions and networking.
The mayor from Braga participated in a panel aimed at European cities that set their goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, which also included representatives from Stavanger (Norway), Turku (Finland), Košice (Slovakia) and Pamplona (Spain).
“Sustainability is a crucial issue that we have taken as a priority for our performance, as important as economic development, cultural dynamism or the social policies that we implement. We believe that the future of the city and the quality of life of our citizens is directly linked to the sustainable development of the city as a whole ”, he said.
According to the mayor, the Municipal Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change in Braga, prepared in 2016, presents several initiatives related to energy efficiency and sustainable mobility, two areas that he listed as essential in a future perspective.
“We have invested in clean energy sources and many of the municipal services are already powered by solar energy. In terms of mobility, we have developed projects that aim to give priority to pedestrians, smooth modes and public transport, with 30% of our bus fleet consisting of electric vehicles or powered by natural gas ”, he said.
Finally, Ricardo Rio recalled that, in the context of the Municipal Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, the Municipality has been working in full harmony with local agents (companies, universities, start-ups, research and development centers, etc.) and the community.
“Collaboration between institutions and citizens is crucial to prepare a consistent approach to these issues and for everyone to be committed to the proposed goals. We are working to build a smart and innovative city, aligned with environmental concerns and measures that we must follow to guarantee carbon neutrality ”, he stressed.
In this regard, the mayor assumed that Braga wants to be in the group of European cities that intend to demonstrate the possibility of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, an objective for which he considers the realization of projects that shape the territory as true cities of innovation crucial. and knowledge.
The Nordic Edge Conference has lectures, workshops interactive events, networking events and a digital exhibition, exploring the opportunities and challenges for cities to become climate neutral by 2030.
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