Marta Guerreiro stresses Regional Government's strategy in fight against climate change
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stressed in Vila Franca do Campo the Government's strategy to fight against climate change, noting that the Azores, due to its geography and climate, may be "a privileged laboratory for the implementation of environmentally clean policies."
Marta Guerreiro considered that the energy sector is "preponderant in this fight," through the investment in renewable energy source. In fact, "they contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the decarbonation of energy production and to the achievement of sustainable development capable of tackling the effects of climate change in harmony with economic growth."
The Regional Secretary stated that energy from renewable sources and endogenous resources reached "almost 40% of the overall energy in the archipelago in late 2018, already exceeding the 32% target set out under the EU 2030 Climate and Energy Targets."
According to the projects and actions planned by EDA (Azores electricity company) and private companies, namely the project for energy storage using batteries, we estimate to reach "56% of electricity production based on renewable resources by the year 2023," stated Marta Guerreiro.
Speaking at the seminar of the Network of Municipalities for Local Adaptation to Climate Change, the Regional Secretary ensured the commitment to energy transition and carbon neutrality, which has led the Government to prepare the 2030 Azorean Energy Strategy.
The Secretary for the Environment stressed that "the Azores have defined a Regional Strategy for Climate Change since 2011 with the aim of introducing changes to the development of policies in this area. It will now be implemented through the Regional Plan for Climate Change (PRAC), which will be soon under this discussion at the Legislative Assembly."
"This tool contributes to the territorial cohesion of the Region as well as to the safeguarding of citizens' safety and the protection of property," said Marta Guerreiro. This strategy encompasses two components, "one is focused on greenhouse gas emissions and its mitigation, while the other is focused on impacts and the adaptation to them."
The government pointed out that the Regional Government regards the Network of Municipalities for Local Adaptation to Climate Change "with hope and confidence, because we all play a crucial role on this planet." On the occasion, she pointed out that municipalities, for "their proximity to populations," are attentive to this problem and, in this context, they are another example of our commitment to take action with the same purpose."
In her speech, the Regional Secretary noted that the Government's actions "are always intended to prepare the Azores to face any challenge of the future," calling for the reflection of the population on "what we can do better for our planet."