The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stressed today at the Legislative Assembly in Horta that the Regional Programme for Climate Change focuses on “a wide range of innovative, demanding, ambitious and integrated measures as a commitment to the future, not only of the Region but of Humanity."
 
“This tool contributes to the territorial cohesion of the Region and to the enhancement of safety and protection of citizens and their property,” said Marta Guerreiro. According to her, the sectoral programme will "foster the capabilities of public entities and those responsible for them in the adaptation, prevention, identification and mitigation of climate change."
 
The government official spoke at the Legislative Assembly in during a discussion of the regional legislative decree approving the Regional Programme for Climate Change (PRAC). According to her, this is a tool that “takes a strategic view on four key aspects: knowledge, mitigation, adaptation and participation, with the development of 76 measures; among them, 64 are aimed at adaptation and 12 at mitigation."
 
The Secretary for the Environment pointed out that the legislation requires the Government to provide natural hazard mapping that should contain technical information safeguarding the exposure and vulnerability of the territory to floods, floods, slope movements and permanent gaseous fumes. The information will be integrated into special and municipal spatial planning systems. The latter are responsible for carrying out detailed mapping whenever they aim at interventions in areas of significant risk.
 
"This is an innovative rule, thus making the Azores pioneers in its introduction into the legal system," said Marta Guerreiro.
 
In her speech, the government official stated that a project had been submitted to the European Union's LIFE programme - LIFE IP CLIMAZ. If approved, we will be able to “invest more than 65 million Euros in the implementation PRAC, more specifically in adaptation and mitigation measures, over the next 10 years.”
 
Under the scope of the Government's action, namely within the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, “there are already several measures and actions in progress.” They have long been an “anticipation of concerns about this issue,” especially through the adoption of environmental, territorial, energy and sustainability policies."
 
As examples in the area of mitigation, the Secretary for the Environment highlighted the increase of renewable energy sources, the implementation of the strategy towards electric mobility in the Azores, the commitment to energy efficiency and the extended scope of Proenergia programme.
 
With regard to adaptation, she underlined the integration of climate change scenarios into water management through the Regional Water Plan Revision, the incorporation of climate scenarios and adaptation measures into the revision of POTRAA (Tourism Management Plan), the removal and control of invasive species, and the planting of endemic species through LIFE projects in the Region.
 
"As the executive power, we want to lead this change in our archipelago with the necessary urgency and demand," Marta Guerreiro said, stressing that "taking action is already a matter of responsibility for all of us and for future generations."