The Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism is holding an information session in Ribeira Grande under the Sustainability Charter of the Azores, following similar initiatives already held in Ponta Delgada and Lagoa.
These local information sessions will be held in all municipalities of the Azores until 2019. Currently, they are taking place on São Miguel Island, followed by Terceira on November 25 and 26, Faial on November 27 and 28, and Pico on November 29.
Additionally, this initiative also includes training workshops. They will be held on Terceira on November 27, followed by Faial on November 28, Pico on November 29, and on São Miguel on December 4. Both initiatives are developed in partnership with Sustain Azores.
The clarification sessions feature the presentation of the origins and the advantages offered by the Charter, establishing a link with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as an explanation on the steps required for joining it.
These actions also comprise specific moments for dialogue and exchange of information with potential members in order to highlight the initiatives that they may benefit from.
Moreover, the training workshops are addressed to entities that have a firm intention to join the Charter, focusing on how each entity may define its commitments under the scope of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
These training initiatives will include individual and collective tasks, promoting a strong interaction among participants. At the end of these workshops, entities will be able to define their goals for joining the Charter.
A support consulting programme is available for the entities joining the Charter as well as regular reporting forums, which provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress made and share knowledge with other members.
The Sustainability Charter of the Azores is an initiative promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism. It intends to foster the adoption of Sustainable Development principles in an inclusive and comprehensive manner across the various sectors of Azorean society. The definition of goals and their respective monitoring is carried out on an annual basis.
The Charter already has 59 members that have set themselves to accomplish three measures under the Sustainable Development Goals, making a public commitment towards a responsible, transparent and future-oriented management.
This is another measure that the Azorean Government has been developing in the context of the ongoing certification process of the Region as a sustainable tourist destination, through the criteria stipulated by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council with the United Nations' approval.