Regional Government presents position under strategy for long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union
The Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariats for Energy, Environment and External Relations, has presented its position regarding the strategy for the long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union, as part of a public consultation process conducted by the European Union.
In this document, the Government of the Azores stresses the importance of this theme for the development of the Region, having worked on the implementation of a series of tools for the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Climate Change.
Bearing this goal in mind, the proposal for regional legislative decree approving the Regional Plan for Climate Change (PRAC) was recently approved by the Government and submitted to the Legislative Assembly.
This planning tool determines that the fight against climate change is carried out at two levels, namely mitigation and adaptation.
In terms of mitigation, "reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in decarbonisation and increasing the efficiency of the economy in order to make it less dependent on external energy resources."
In terms of adaptation, "implementing measures to protect property, resources and people, increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change and taking into account the interaction with other pressures, namely socio-economic, legislative and cyclical."
The Azorean Government emphasises in this document that PRAC, besides reinforcing knowledge and information on climate change, "defines as strategic goal the mitigation and reduction of the vulnerability and adaptation to it, having identified a series of measures to achieve those goals."
In the document submitted, the Regional Government states that PRAC includes a total of 74 measures, of which 64 are dedicated to adaptation and 12 to mitigation.
According to the Regional Government, the "challenge" of climate change must be regarded "as an opportunity for technological reconfiguration, ensuring competitiveness and future sustainability in critical sectors, including the emerging market for green technologies." Furthermore, it should also consider "key issues related to food and energy safety, the safeguarding of people and property, land use and mobility policies."