Speech by the President of the Government - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

Full text of the speech delivered today by the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, in Praia da Vitória at the opening session of the conference "Weather, Climate and the Economy":

"Welcome to this international conference.

It also aims to counter indifference to climate action.

It promotes awareness, literacy, prevention and action.

It recognises the centrality and opportunities of the Azores and awakens the country and the European Union to this fact.

It teaches and anticipates the future, as emergencies do not relieve the present of its responsibility to take action. 

We live in a time marked by unprecedented challenges.

The planet is immersed in a climate emergency, whose impacts are spreading across all continents, crossing borders, and affecting the most diverse sectors of activity and life itself as we know it.

This pressure is being exerted not only on production systems but also on communities, natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, which are fundamental to our survival and well-being.

The Azores are victims of climate change, as their actions have not contributed to the excessive carbonisation of the economy.

On the contrary, their entire social, cultural and political activities has focused on sustainability and environmentally responsible public policies.

Climate change stands out as one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.

In the Azores, we are a good example to the world.

If the European Union wants to take on a leading role, it must recognise the Azores' leading role by example and outline coordinated strategies for its member states.

The European Green Deal must provide a legal and financial framework for this ecological transition, endeavouring to ensure that it is not only cost-effective but also socially balanced, fair and inclusive.

Allow me to focus on our Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Despite the Azores' minor contribution to global warming, our island status and outermost location make us particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change. The Azores have experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme meteorological phenomena: hurricanes, heavy rainfall, coastal gales and other events that jeopardise people's safety have caused significant material and financial damage, threatening the sustainability of essential sectors to our development.

In this regard, I recall the devastating impact of Hurricane Lorenzo, whose damage reached 330 million Euros, leaving a trail of destruction on our islands.

Situations like this demonstrate the urgency of not only mitigating climate change but also, and above all, strengthening our resilience and adaptive capacity, reducing exposure to natural hazards and enhancing the protection of people and property.

The intensity of climate change impact in the Azores will depend to a large extent on our degree of promptness and adaptation.

For this reason, the Regional Government has firmly taken on climate change mitigation and adaptation as a core mission, establishing a Regional Secretariat dedicated to the Environment, Climate Action and the management of natural hazards.

With this framework, the Regional Programme for Climate Change (PRAC) was created in 2019. It includes 145 measures - 115 adaptation and 30 mitigation measures - covering crucial areas such as transport, energy, agriculture, tourism, fisheries, water resources, waste, health and ecosystems.

The LIFE IP CLIMAZ project, which began in 2021, represents an investment of 20 million Euros over ten years, covering the nine islands of the archipelago, in a coordinated and multisectoral action, with the ambition of implementing specific and comprehensive adaptation and mitigation measures.

Aware of the challenges as well as the regulatory progress and scientific achievements, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action recently launched a call for proposals to revise PRAC, with an estimated investment of 400 thousand Euros to ensure that it is updated, aligned with European regulatory instruments and consolidated with an integrated approach to mitigation and adaptation.

In the field of mitigation, I would highlight the significant investments in the energy and transport sectors to foster the penetration of renewable energy sources in our energy mix, leveraging geothermal, wind, solar and hydroelectric power, and promoting smart energy storage and management systems.

Innovative projects such as SOLENERGE and Pro-Energia encourage the decentralised production of renewable energy sources in homes and businesses, contributing to decarbonisation and meeting international targets.

In terms of promptness and resilience, and cooperating with IPMA, to which I once again express my special praise and recognition, I am pleased to highlight the completion of the Azores Regional Weather Radar Network. This investment of 5 million Euros guarantees full coverage of the archipelago with state-of-the-art technology, enhancing weather surveillance and prevention, and ensuring timely warnings to the population and civil protection services.

In November, the implementation project will be delivered. Then, IPMA will immediately launch the public tender for the refurbishment works, scheduled to take place in 2026, for the installation of the Atlantic Climate Observatory.

If all goes well, it will be operational by the end of 2027, with an overall investment of about 2 million Euros, divided into 1 million Euros invested by IPMA in infrastructure and 1 million Euros by the Regional Government in the purchase and installation of equipment.

Alongside this initiative, the modernisation of the Pico Mountain Observatory demonstrates the level of our commitment to research and scientific development.

I will conclude by calling for a sense of shared responsibility. Climate change knows no borders.

The response requires collective efforts, ambition and solidarity.

The Azores, despite their size, are today an example of commitment and innovation, with assertive public policies.

The programme of this conference reflects a comprehensive approach, starting with a presentation by IPMA, followed by a global perspective presented by Dr. Durão Barroso, a multidisciplinary panel of experts and, finally, an open debate.

I would like to thank all the speakers and participants - in person and remotely - who have come together to share knowledge, build consensus and outline solutions for a more resilient, sustainable and fairer future.

Thank you very much.

I have said it!"