Environment and innovation policy brings UK ambassador to Porto

Last week, the City Hall welcomed the UK ambassador. At Lisa Bandari's request, the Deputy Mayor of Porto presented the municipality's main Environment and Innovation projects, as well as the targets already achieved by a smart city policy.

Starting with the great common goal signed in the Porto Climate Pact to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, Filipe Araújo emphasised how the mission has been pursued alongside various city institutions.

The head of Environment and Climate Transition had the opportunity to mention actions such as the bet on the expansion of green areas, the planting of new trees throughout the city and the implementation of nature-based solutions in places such as the Parque Central da Asprela or the Parque Alameda de Cartes.

Regarding water, the Deputy Mayor highlighted the energy efficiency projects developed at the wastewater treatment plants, the new wastewater reuse project for washing and irrigation, as well as the 13.28% unbilled water levels achieved, all in favour of reducing the waste of an increasingly scarce commodity.

The British ambassador also learned about the Porto Solar project, which produces energy through photovoltaic panels installed on municipal buildings, and the actions developed to create energy communities in the city's neighbourhoods.

From Porto, Lisa Bandari took also 'green' mobility examples, such as the electrification of municipal and STCP fleets and the expansion of metro lines.

In the field of innovation, the Deputy Mayor showed the ambassador how the municipality has been developing projects for a growingly greater connectivity between services, such as the Integrated Management Centre or the city management support platform.

In office since January, Lisa Bandari has taken on energy transition, innovation, growth and investment as key areas in the British embassy's work in Portugal.