Email:
Phone:
Fax:
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource
Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes Technical Seminar on Circular Economy
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes Technical Seminar on Circular Economy
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action opens fajãs do Toledo trail on São Jorge Island
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action opens fajãs do Toledo trail on São Jorge Island
June 5, 2025
Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource
June 3, 2025
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes Technical Seminar on Circular Economy
May 29, 2025
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action opens fajãs do Toledo trail on São Jorge Island
News
Nota de Imprensa
June 5, 2025
Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource
With a view to celebrating World Environment Day, observed today, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has organised various initiatives taking place across all the Azorean islands between May 31 and June 8. They are intended to raise awareness, inform and involve citizens in environmental preservation, nature conservation and the adoption of more sustainable practices. During the day, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, attended several events in Horta to mark the occasion. These included the prize-delivery ceremony for the "Climate Innovation" ideas competition, promoted by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action, as well as the Eco-Schools flag-raising ceremony at the António José de Ávila School. "These initiatives acknowledge the merit and involvement of our young people in environmental issues, encouraging innovation and critical thinking in the search for solutions and contributions to the sustainable development of our islands," stated Alonso Miguel. "The celebration of World Environment Day represents an opportunity that encourages us to reflect on our behaviour and the role that each of us can play in protecting the planet," he continued. The occasion was also marked by the launch of the board game "Discovering the Protected Areas of the Azores," aimed at elementary school students, which was promoted with a class from the aforementioned school. “The game invites students and teachers to learn more about the extraordinary natural heritage of the Azores, exploring our protected areas in a dynamic and accessible way, their role in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance, and how we can contribute to their preservation,” he added. The Regional Secretary emphasised that "this new educational resource represents another teaching tool created to bring children and young people even closer to the environment and nature surrounding them." According to Alonso Miguel, "the Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has been strengthening its commitment to environmental education year after year as a way of raising awareness and involving the school community in major environmental issues. This has been achieved through the School Awareness Activities Programme, which is available to all schools in the Region and will now be joined by this new teaching resource." The government official revealed that "since the launch of the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme in 2022, 2,370 activities have been organised, involving more than 51 thousand participants. These impressive figures reflect the positive and growing impact of these activities in the Azorean school context, with significant repercussions on environmental awareness." Alonso Miguel stated that "the programme of activities prepared as part of the World Environment Day celebrations includes thematic workshops, coastal clean-up operations, planting of endemic species, interpretive visits to natural areas, in addition to cultural and recreational activities, including theatre, music, dance and educational games, aimed at different age groups.” Alonso Miguel also highlighted the screening of the documentary "Climate Change – What Future for the Azores?" across all islands. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action and is targeted at the general public, but with a special focus on secondary school students. "With this documentary, we want to inform and raise awareness of the challenges that climate change poses to our archipelago, promoting a change in attitudes and a commitment, both individual and collective, to environmental sustainability," he stressed. According to the Regional Secretary, "a week full of activities has been prepared on all islands, aimed not only at schoolchildren but also at families and the community in general, to promote environmental awareness and the sustainable development of our islands.” He added that "the activities prepared involve the collaboration and participation of various partner entities, including environmental non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and private entities.” Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that these initiatives strengthen the Region's commitment to environmental preservation, protection of natural heritage and promotion of sustainable development in the Azores.
June 5, 2025
Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource
With a view to celebrating World Environment Day, observed today, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has organised various initiatives taking place across all the Azorean islands between May 31 and June 8. They are intended to raise awareness, inform and involve citizens in environmental preservation, nature conservation and the adoption of more sustainable practices. During the day, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, attended several events in Horta to mark the occasion. These included the prize-delivery ceremony for the "Climate Innovation" ideas competition, promoted by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action, as well as the Eco-Schools flag-raising ceremony at the António José de Ávila School. "These initiatives acknowledge the merit and involvement of our young people in environmental issues, encouraging innovation and critical thinking in the search for solutions and contributions to the sustainable development of our islands," stated Alonso Miguel. "The celebration of World Environment Day represents an opportunity that encourages us to reflect on our behaviour and the role that each of us can play in protecting the planet," he continued. The occasion was also marked by the launch of the board game "Discovering the Protected Areas of the Azores," aimed at elementary school students, which was promoted with a class from the aforementioned school. “The game invites students and teachers to learn more about the extraordinary natural heritage of the Azores, exploring our protected areas in a dynamic and accessible way, their role in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance, and how we can contribute to their preservation,” he added. The Regional Secretary emphasised that "this new educational resource represents another teaching tool created to bring children and young people even closer to the environment and nature surrounding them." According to Alonso Miguel, "the Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has been strengthening its commitment to environmental education year after year as a way of raising awareness and involving the school community in major environmental issues. This has been achieved through the School Awareness Activities Programme, which is available to all schools in the Region and will now be joined by this new teaching resource." The government official revealed that "since the launch of the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme in 2022, 2,370 activities have been organised, involving more than 51 thousand participants. These impressive figures reflect the positive and growing impact of these activities in the Azorean school context, with significant repercussions on environmental awareness." Alonso Miguel stated that "the programme of activities prepared as part of the World Environment Day celebrations includes thematic workshops, coastal clean-up operations, planting of endemic species, interpretive visits to natural areas, in addition to cultural and recreational activities, including theatre, music, dance and educational games, aimed at different age groups.” Alonso Miguel also highlighted the screening of the documentary "Climate Change – What Future for the Azores?" across all islands. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action and is targeted at the general public, but with a special focus on secondary school students. "With this documentary, we want to inform and raise awareness of the challenges that climate change poses to our archipelago, promoting a change in attitudes and a commitment, both individual and collective, to environmental sustainability," he stressed. According to the Regional Secretary, "a week full of activities has been prepared on all islands, aimed not only at schoolchildren but also at families and the community in general, to promote environmental awareness and the sustainable development of our islands.” He added that "the activities prepared involve the collaboration and participation of various partner entities, including environmental non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and private entities.” Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that these initiatives strengthen the Region's commitment to environmental preservation, protection of natural heritage and promotion of sustainable development in the Azores.
Nota de Imprensa
June 3, 2025
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes Technical Seminar on Circular Economy
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired the closing session of the 3rd Technical Seminar on the Circular Economy of the Azores, organised by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, which took place on Monday at the João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive in the city of Horta. Alonso Miguel began his speech by noting that "this seminar was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and reflect on the circular economy. It is also an opportunity to showcase projects pointing the way forward in various areas, from good practices in waste prevention to the creation of quality certificates that promote sustainable practices, progress in the energy sector, the implementation of the circular economy in agriculture or the increase in waste segregation at the source; the latter with initiatives such as the deposit and reimbursement system for packaging or the system for collecting used coffee capsules." According to the government official, "the transition to a circular economy is a very important goal for humanity, at a time when the planet is facing an emergency scenario, confronted with major challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution and the destruction of ecosystems, with worrying environmental, economic and social consequences." The Regional Secretary emphasised that "it is essential to rethink consumption patterns and promote a paradigm shift, for which the transition to a circular economy plays an essential role." He added that "in island regions such as the Azores, which face particular challenges due to their geographical isolation, territorial limitations, scarce resources and heavy dependence on imports, this transition is not just an option but rather an absolute necessity." Alonso Miguel emphasised "the effort undertaken in this area by the Regional Government, and in particular by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action." He highlighted "the creation of the Roadmap for the Regional Circular Economy, which aimed to adapt the new Action Plan for the Circular Economy to the Region, one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal, under which the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was developed. This was in addition to other important measures, such as the creation of the Digital Platform for Circularity in the Azores, the Guide to Good Practices for the Organisation of Circular Events and the "Circular Event" Label." The Regional Secretary emphasised that ‘the publication of the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Azores in early 2025 represented a strategic step by helping to draw up a regional diagnosis. This included analysing material and energy flows, measuring economic metabolism, and creating a basic framework for assessing the potential and constraints for the development of a circular economy model." "The model set out in the Agenda, duly coordinated with a broad process of creating, reviewing and updating regional legislation on waste prevention and management, carried out by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, translates into 61 measures and actions for the 2023-2030 period. It includes wide-ranging measures and actions as well as specific measures, aimed at each strategic sector," he said. The Regional Secretary recalled that, in addition to the approval of specific regional legislation aimed at reducing the consumption of single-use products, the new Strategic Programme for the Prevention and Management of Waste in the Azores - PEPGRA 20+ - was also created, which was approved in 2023. Several processes were also set in motion to revise the general scheme for the prevention and management of waste and the scheme for specific waste streams in the Region, which will soon be discussed by the Regional Parliament. Alonso Miguel also emphasised that the Government has recently promoted several important initiatives in the field of the circular economy, including the pilot project for the implementation of a Deposit System for Non-Reusable Beverage Packaging in the Azores, as well as the recent creation of a system for collecting and recycling used coffee capsules in partnership with the Region's 19 municipalities and RECAPS. The government official also highlighted "the work to restructure the Waste Processing Centres on six of the archipelago's islands, which represented an investment of around 6.1 million Euros." He reiterated his commitment to continuing the work of upgrading and strengthening the capacity of these infrastructures, with the recent "launch of a new procedure to modernise the recycling processes at the Waste Processing Centres on the islands of Pico, Graciosa, São Jorge, Santa Maria and Faial, with a planned investment of three million Euros." Alonso Miguel concluded by saying that "the transition to the circular economy requires coherent public policies, adequate funding, education and training and, above all, a change in behaviour." "The circular economy is not solely dependent on technological developments but rather on a new way of thinking, producing and living, which requires the involvement of society in general and each Azorean," he stressed. The 3rd Technical Seminar on the Circular Economy in the Azores was attended by more than 200 registered participants and representatives from various organisations, such as the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action, the Portuguese Environment Agency, ISQ Portugal, the Portuguese Business Confederation, SDR Portugal, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Horta, the Horta City Council, Resiaçores, the Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal and EDA - Eletricidade dos Açores.
June 3, 2025
Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes Technical Seminar on Circular Economy
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired the closing session of the 3rd Technical Seminar on the Circular Economy of the Azores, organised by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, which took place on Monday at the João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive in the city of Horta. Alonso Miguel began his speech by noting that "this seminar was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and reflect on the circular economy. It is also an opportunity to showcase projects pointing the way forward in various areas, from good practices in waste prevention to the creation of quality certificates that promote sustainable practices, progress in the energy sector, the implementation of the circular economy in agriculture or the increase in waste segregation at the source; the latter with initiatives such as the deposit and reimbursement system for packaging or the system for collecting used coffee capsules." According to the government official, "the transition to a circular economy is a very important goal for humanity, at a time when the planet is facing an emergency scenario, confronted with major challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution and the destruction of ecosystems, with worrying environmental, economic and social consequences." The Regional Secretary emphasised that "it is essential to rethink consumption patterns and promote a paradigm shift, for which the transition to a circular economy plays an essential role." He added that "in island regions such as the Azores, which face particular challenges due to their geographical isolation, territorial limitations, scarce resources and heavy dependence on imports, this transition is not just an option but rather an absolute necessity." Alonso Miguel emphasised "the effort undertaken in this area by the Regional Government, and in particular by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action." He highlighted "the creation of the Roadmap for the Regional Circular Economy, which aimed to adapt the new Action Plan for the Circular Economy to the Region, one of the main pillars of the European Green Deal, under which the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was developed. This was in addition to other important measures, such as the creation of the Digital Platform for Circularity in the Azores, the Guide to Good Practices for the Organisation of Circular Events and the "Circular Event" Label." The Regional Secretary emphasised that ‘the publication of the Agenda for the Circular Economy of the Azores in early 2025 represented a strategic step by helping to draw up a regional diagnosis. This included analysing material and energy flows, measuring economic metabolism, and creating a basic framework for assessing the potential and constraints for the development of a circular economy model." "The model set out in the Agenda, duly coordinated with a broad process of creating, reviewing and updating regional legislation on waste prevention and management, carried out by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, translates into 61 measures and actions for the 2023-2030 period. It includes wide-ranging measures and actions as well as specific measures, aimed at each strategic sector," he said. The Regional Secretary recalled that, in addition to the approval of specific regional legislation aimed at reducing the consumption of single-use products, the new Strategic Programme for the Prevention and Management of Waste in the Azores - PEPGRA 20+ - was also created, which was approved in 2023. Several processes were also set in motion to revise the general scheme for the prevention and management of waste and the scheme for specific waste streams in the Region, which will soon be discussed by the Regional Parliament. Alonso Miguel also emphasised that the Government has recently promoted several important initiatives in the field of the circular economy, including the pilot project for the implementation of a Deposit System for Non-Reusable Beverage Packaging in the Azores, as well as the recent creation of a system for collecting and recycling used coffee capsules in partnership with the Region's 19 municipalities and RECAPS. The government official also highlighted "the work to restructure the Waste Processing Centres on six of the archipelago's islands, which represented an investment of around 6.1 million Euros." He reiterated his commitment to continuing the work of upgrading and strengthening the capacity of these infrastructures, with the recent "launch of a new procedure to modernise the recycling processes at the Waste Processing Centres on the islands of Pico, Graciosa, São Jorge, Santa Maria and Faial, with a planned investment of three million Euros." Alonso Miguel concluded by saying that "the transition to the circular economy requires coherent public policies, adequate funding, education and training and, above all, a change in behaviour." "The circular economy is not solely dependent on technological developments but rather on a new way of thinking, producing and living, which requires the involvement of society in general and each Azorean," he stressed. The 3rd Technical Seminar on the Circular Economy in the Azores was attended by more than 200 registered participants and representatives from various organisations, such as the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action, the Portuguese Environment Agency, ISQ Portugal, the Portuguese Business Confederation, SDR Portugal, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Horta, the Horta City Council, Resiaçores, the Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal and EDA - Eletricidade dos Açores.