The Lago Alqueva Transfrontier Association of Municipalities (ATLA) signed, on February 22nd, the European Convention of Mayors for Climate and Energy, a commitment to “environmental sustainability”.
The “European Covenant of Mayors 2018” ceremony took place at the European Parliament, in Brussels, and was attended by an ATLA delegation consisting of the president of the association José Calixto, João Martins, from EDIA – Alqueva Development and Infrastructure Company, responsible for monitoring of the works of the partnership between the two entities, and Marta Santos, from the Municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz.
ATLA was the first in Europe and the only cross-border association to sign the convention, having been accompanied at this ceremony by Portuguese MEPs Ricardo Serrão Santos and Carlos Zorrinho, commissioner Carlos Moedas and hundreds of European mayors, including Lisbon, Almada, Póvoa de Varzim, Reguengos de Monsaraz and Guimarães.
The Municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, an ATLA member, has also committed to this European convention representing the strategy of local government for the sustainability of the planet, allowing it to access and benefit from this new European Commission fund of around 16 billion euros in the areas of research and innovation, under the “Horizon 2020”.
José Calixto, president of ATLA, considers that this ceremony “is part of a political strategy that, since 2008, brings together the community of municipalities and demonstrates the importance of local authorities in the development of integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change to improve efficiency buildings, transport or lighting, make greater use of renewable energy and strengthen measures to combat climate risks”.
The ATLA president also says that "in this act, the mayors presented examples of how these achievements can be expanded to help achieve or exceed the goals related to the European Union's energy and climate policies."
The “Mayors Adapt” was launched in March 2014, under the “Covenant of Mayors”, and focuses on climate change adaptation measures. This is the first European-wide initiative launched to support cities, regions and local administration in this type of action.
In addition to supporting the global objectives of the European Union's strategy for adaptation to climate change, which aims to make Europe more resistant to the climate, cities and regions that adhere to the “Mayors Adapt” accept to elaborate local adaptation strategies or to integrate the actions developed or to be developed into action plans.
ATLA – Lago Alqueva Transfrontier Association of Municipalities was created in 2005 and is made up of the municipalities of Alandroal, Moura, Mourão, Portel, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Barrancos, Viana do Alentejo, Vidigueira and Serpa, and the ayuntamientos of Alconchel, Cheles, Olivença and Villanueva del Fresno.
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