MARE researchers join Setúbal's Municipal Environment Council

Setúbal's Municipal Environment Council took office on 25 September after a swearing-in ceremony at the town hall. The council is made up of 33 members, including MARE researchers Emanuel Gonçalves and Graça Martinho.

Chaired by the mayor of Setúbal, André Martins, the body held its first meeting on the same day, on the subject of climate change. This topic is part of a group of four other key points on which this council will focus: Environmental Education, Nature Conservation, Environmental Quality and Governance and Participation.

In addition, this council aims to make the city more sustainable and promote participation and social cohesion. This council aims to be a ‘body for reflection and consultation, representative of the various entities in the municipality’ as well as a ‘permanent structure for participation and debate on all relevant municipal matters in the field of sustainable development’, as explained in the press release from the municipality of Setubal.

This Municipal Environment Council has a scientific committee, which includes MARE researchers Emanuel Gonçalves and Graça Martinho, as well as researchers from other organisations such as CE3C, the Faculty of Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon, the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the University of Lisbon and the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon. As well as the scientific committee, the council also includes organisations such as the Association of Setúbal Region Municipalities, the Setúbal Bay Association and the Arrábida Energy Agency. The Port of Setúbal, the Captaincy of the Port, the security forces, the Setúbal Polytechnic Institute, the Arrábida Local Health Unit, Simarsul, Amarsul and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests.