Environmental journeys lead towards sustainability
The Setúbal Environment Days, with activities in May and June, including the new Arrábida Hiking Festival, were highlighted on April 12th by the vice-president of the municipality, Carla Guerreiro, as an important contribution to the construction of a more sustainable.
“The environment and sustainable development are fundamental axes of the territory of Setúbal and play a strategic and central role in municipal activity”, stated the mayor at a press conference held at Casa da Baía, to present the program organized by the Setúbal City Council.
The Setúbal Environment Days are, this year, promoted in a spirit of celebration of nature and environmental heritage, combined with a component of scientific knowledge and awareness of the growing threats arising from climate change.
In this sense, the vice-president of the municipality, Carla Guerreiro, praised the fact that the second edition of the event contributes to consolidating a path that is “increasingly better” and that has been followed in recent years, by “strengthening the work on these matters with the community in our territory”.
The mayor also stressed that “Setúbal’s strategic line of work is to build an increasingly interventionist society with regard to environmental challenges, namely the defense of the environment, biodiversity, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, which are an emergency at a global level.”
The Arrábida Hiking Festival, between the 2nd and 5th of May, with the aim of promoting, at a national and international level, the natural tourist potential of the region, reinforcing the visibility of the offer of products from local companies and tour operators, gives start of the Setúbal Environment Days program.
There are four days with a total of 28 walks, with paid participation, for all audiences and with different degrees of difficulty, in the heart of the Natural Park, which help to discover the best paths and the immeasurable natural and heritage wealth of Arrábida.
This festival, whose program is available on the Visit Setúbal website, also aims, in direct collaboration with tour operators in the region, to promote the organization of nature events, such as walks in natural spaces, hiking and cultural tours and adventure and of ecotourism.
Another highlight of the Setúbal Environment Days 2024 is the international conference “Climate Change”, on June 6, at Casa da Baía, with the participation of several experts in the field of climate and environment that addresses, among other topics, the risks of climate change for the territory of Setúbal.
The meeting, broadcast live by the municipality, includes, among other interventions, the presentation of the Climate Action Plan and a session dedicated to climate activism, with emphasis on the participation of the imperfect environmentalist, Joana Guerra Tadeu.
The head of the Support Office for Sustainable Development and Environmental Emergency at Setúbal City Council, Cristina Coelho, said that the 2024 edition of the Setúbal Environment Days is marked “by an innovative approach, focused on climate change, environmental awareness and community".
From this perspective, the program includes, among others, beach cleaning actions and community environmental journalism workshops, as well as working meetings, cases of the first meeting of the scientific committee of the Municipal Environment Council and a special session of the Municipal Assembly of Setúbal dedicated to the Environment.
The Setúbal Environment Days program, which includes several environmental actions, with the involvement of civil society and the school community, also includes the event “@gentes do Ambiente 2024”, which proposes, among others, the Festa da Flor.
The event, from the 23rd to the 26th of May, on Avenida Luísa Todi, includes a display of flowers and gardening materials and equipment, the construction of a collective mandala, workshops, gastronomic demonstrations, musical notes, literary activities and a parade of flowered bicycles .
Also noteworthy is the conference “Environment and Quality of Urban Life”, on May 22, in the Mercado do Livramento auditorium, which brings together experts to reflect on topics such as sustainability, tourism and human activities, sustainable green spaces, fire protection and energy efficiency.
The Manel da Horta Festival – Traditions, Flavors and Loves of Azeitão, on the 24th, 25th and 26th of May, in the Rossio of Vila Nogueira de Azeitão, the walk “Pelos Trilhos de Sebastião da Gama, on the 25th of May, and the Há Party in the Park, on the 1st and 2nd of June, in Jardim do Bonfim, are other initiatives included in the program.
