Maria João Rodrigues, Executive Coordinator of Cidades pelo Clima, participated in the roundtable “European, National and Local Policy: Synergies and Challenges for Energy Sustainability”, held this Thursday, April 11, at the Autónoma Academy Auditorium in Lisbon.
Paulo Ferrão, Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, President of IN+ – Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, board member and interim president of the European Union’s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, was also among the speakers, along with João Galamba, former Secretary of State for Energy (2018–2022) and Minister for Infrastructure until 2023.
The session, moderated by Fernando Alves Pinto – Coordinator of the postgraduate course Energy Transition Horizon 2030 and board member of the National Entity for the Energy Sector (ENSE) – fostered a strategic reflection on the role of public policies and the coordination across different levels of governance: from the European Union to national and local levels.
At a time when the energy transition is an undeniable priority, the discussion focused on the practical challenges of implementing sustainable policies and the importance of a coordinated approach.
The event saw strong participation from the audience, notably from students of the PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African Countries), promoting an intergenerational and intercultural exchange of perspectives on a sustainable energy future.
The presence of Cidades pelo Clima at this conference reinforces its commitment to promoting more resilient and carbon-neutral cities, acting as a bridge between European policies and the local realities of Portuguese municipalities.
