“We cannot expect local and national governments to solve all the problems caused by such a structural and profound change. Living in democracy implies that citizens are active and empowered for the climate transition,” emphasized Diana Neves, ambassador of the European Climate Pact.
The “Semear Ação” project will bring “activism schools” to Pombal, Caldas da Rainha, and Guarda on Saturday, offering communities training to tackle environmental issues and learn to mobilize effectively.
The “activism schools,” managed by ZERO and Transitar, will also be held on April 5 in Tourencinho, in the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
The ambassador of the European Climate Pact, Diana Neves, will attend the event at the Bioparque da Charneca in Pombal, participating in the activism school organized by the Amigos do Arunca movement.
The activism school in Caldas da Rainha is organized by Ágora — Associação Ambiental, whereas in Guarda it is promoted by the Ação Floresta Viva movement.
António Gonçalves Pereira, ambassador of the European Climate Pact and coordinator of Ecomood Portugal, who will participate in the Caldas da Rainha event, regards these as “days of empowerment in climate action.”
“Political decisions heavily depend on public opinion, which offers citizens the opportunity to influence the measures that should be taken for the climate transition. Therefore, it is necessary for people to be better informed to foster better decisions,” he remarked.
Rita Prates from ZERO, the association coordinating the European Climate Pact in Portugal, highlighted the necessity for citizens to understand and manage democratic tools to voice their concerns, such as petitions, meetings, demonstrations, public consultations, or citizens’ assemblies.
“It is crucial for people to become familiar with the means of activism, fighting for their environmental rights, and achieving fair and adequate ways to promote the climate transition,” she stated.
In the four locations hosting the activism schools, there will also be the Climate Wall, a game filled with ample information about environmental and climate indicators.
According to the organization, the game follows a cause-and-effect logic, imparting knowledge and emphasizing the ongoing physical and chemical phenomena on the planet due to climate change.
The Climate Wall is a scientific workshop, based on the work of the United Nations, facilitated in Portugal by the Transitar association.
“The logic of the Climate Wall stems from the awareness that change can only occur if society understands the environmental problem it faces and knows it in some depth,” asserted Aurore Delaunay, leader of the environmental organization Transitar.
The European Climate Pact is a central initiative of the European Green Deal promoted by the European Union, aiming to mobilize communities across Europe for investments, activities, and processes that progressively reduce reliance on fossil fuels and other greenhouse gases, promoting the transition to safer, healthier living and a sustainable economy.
