Guimarães Won the Prize of EU Green Capital 2026
Why Guimarães Won the Award
Guimarães, often referred to as the “Cradle of the Nation,” has been honoured with the prestigious title of European Green Capital for 2026. This accolade, awarded by the European Commission, recognizes cities that have demonstrated a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards and are committed to ambitious goals for sustainable development. (Environment)
The European Green Capital jury highlighted Guimarães’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and its comprehensive achievements across various sectors. The city’s ability to integrate sustainability into its culture, engaging citizens, academia, and the private sector under the “One Planet City” motto, was particularly commended. (ICLEI Europe)
CONCRETE ACHIEVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN GUIMARÃES
Guimarães has made remarkable strides in sustainability through strong political decisions, broad consensus, and a commitment to science-based, practical initiatives. Since the establishment of the Ecosystem Governance Model (2013/2014) and the creation of the Laboratório da Paisagem (2014), the city has fostered innovation in climate action, biodiversity, green spaces, water management, circular economy, health, quality of life, and environmental education. In 2024, the Laboratório da Paisagem operated with a €1.2 million budget, driving forward impactful sustainability projects where climate considerations are fully integrated.
CONNECTING CITIZENS WITH NATURE
Guimarães has successfully strengthened its citizens’ connection with nature through a range of initiatives, including leisure areas, a biodiversity route, environmental education programs, and awareness campaigns.
The PEGADAS program has played a key role in increasing climate literacy, promoting sustainable community practices, and shifting societal behaviors. In 2023-2024 alone, 836 activities were conducted under this program. This effort aligns with the city’s Guimarães Mais Verde movement, which fosters environmental awareness and civic engagement while promoting land use planning and the conservation of natural, landscape, and cultural heritage.
Additionally, the Green Brigades, volunteer groups dedicated to environmental action, now cover 80% of Guimarães’ civic parishes, reinforcing local efforts to protect and restore nature.
COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE NEUTRALITY
Guimarães is one of 112 cities participating in the EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. This commitment is embedded in the Guimarães 2030 Strategic Plan, which fosters integrated and multidisciplinary environmental management, involving research institutions, businesses, and citizen-led initiatives.
The city is also part of the NetZeroCities program, which helps municipalities overcome structural, institutional, and cultural challenges to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Guimarães has signed the Climate Cities Contract, reinforcing its dedication to this goal. As part of this effort, 120 local businesses, including Win-Win Textiles, have signed the city’s Climate Pact, contributing to a collaborative, cross-sectoral approach to sustainability. Schools have also played a vital role, with 140 climate-related actions implemented in local institutions.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & COLLABORATION
Guimarães has dismantled traditional barriers between government, citizens, institutions, and businesses, ensuring widespread participation in its sustainability initiatives. The city leverages sports, tourism, and culture to spread its message:
• 18 local sports clubs have developed Sustainability Plans for 2024-2027.
• The city organizes Zero Carbon Cultural Events and pursues EarthCheck Tourism Certifications.
• The Guimarães Green Weeks celebrate and promote environmental achievements.
• Over 4,000 citizens actively participate in sustainability events, alongside 88 schools and private sector partners.
• The private sector plants 2,000 trees annually, with Win-Win Textiles’ reforestation event contributing 1,250 trees in 2025.
Guimarães is also pioneering citizen science initiatives. Through the Biodiversity Go! app, residents contribute to tracking invasive species, leading to 599 documented cases—with 45% of these species now being actively replaced by native alternatives.
ECO-SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP
Guimarães leads Portugal in the Eco-Schools program, an international initiative by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In the 2023/24 school year, 64 schools—the highest number in the country—participated in the program, reinforcing sustainability in education through hands-on learning and community engagement.
The program is coordinated at international, national, regional, and school levels. This multi-level coordination ensures alignment with common goals, methodologies, and criteria while respecting the specific characteristics of each school, its students, and its surrounding environment.
MEASURING CITIZEN PERCEPTION AND IMPACT
The city actively tracks public sentiment on environmental quality. The most recent survey showed that:
• 83% of residents find Guimarães to be quiet or not overly noisy.
• 89% have adopted water-saving measures at home.
• 94% are aware of the local impacts of climate change.
• 97% believe they breathe good or very good air quality in the city.
WATER MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION
Guimarães prioritizes water sustainability through various initiatives:
• Free tap water stations are available across the city and at public events, reducing reliance on plastic bottles.
• Water use in municipality-owned buildings has been cut by 31%.
• 100% of water used for street cleaning is now reclaimed.
• Public campaigns encourage household water conservation.
Additionally, the city has built water retention basins, preventing 52 floods in 2023 while capturing 225m³ of rainwater for reuse.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY & WASTE REDUCTION
Guimarães actively promotes circular economy principles through initiatives such as:
• URBACT Let’s Go Circular, which engages local businesses—including Win-Win Textiles—in workshops to develop sector-specific circular strategies.
• Over 2,000 community-led sustainability actions have taken place since 2022.
• 5,000 second-hand sales have been recorded in community markets.
• 5,000 handbags made from textile waste have been distributed at public events.
FOOD WASTE PREVENTION
Guimarães has reduced food waste by 10% (60 tonnes), with ReFood playing a crucial role in food redistribution. Win-Win Textiles supports the initiative through donations and by encouraging its employees to volunteer in food preparation and distribution.
As part of its environmental education efforts, the city has successfully shifted student perceptions of pollinators—32 species previously considered “dangerous” (such as bees) are now recognized as beneficial.
URBAN REGENERATION & BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT
Guimarães is transforming neglected urban spaces into green, liveable environments:
• 15 urban areas have been regenerated.
• 66 brownfield sites have been converted into leisure parks.
DISTENDER: EU Climate Adaptation Initiative
Guimarães is a key participant, being 1 of 5 selected citites, in DISTENDER, an EU-funded project that bridges the gap between scientists and policymakers, developing actionable climate adaptation strategies. Through participatory workshops, Win-Win Textiles and other local stakeholders collaborate to create innovative solutions tailored to Guimarães’ specific climate risks.
This inititive hopes to lead us into a new era of equilibrium for climate change.
EMBRACING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2026
Winning the title of European Green Capital 2026 is not just recognition of past achievements—it is also a commitment to doing more and accelerating our sustainability efforts across all sectors in Guimarães.
This responsibility extends to every level of society:
• Businesses must sign climate action agreements with the city, aligning their commitments with the municipal sustainability strategy.
• Citizens need to deepen their engagement in green initiatives.
• Schools should expand their participation in the Eco-Schools program.
• The municipality must continue investing wisely, ensuring that the prize funding is effectively applied to drive impactful change and coordinate all sustainability efforts.
These are exciting times for Guimarães. Below are some of the key areas of focus that will remain top priorities in the coming years.
Expanding Green Belts
The city’s Green Belts, designed to connect communities and enhance urban biodiversity, will continue to expand. By 2030, the goal is to achieve 74% connectivity among the population, while contributing to carbon sequestration of 123 tons CO₂eq by 2030 and 176.4 tons CO₂eq by 2050.
Advancing Circularity and Waste Reduction
Guimarães is committed to becoming a zero-waste and circular city:
• Municipal solid waste has already been reduced by 13.5 kg per capita.
• In 2024, 103 tonnes of manufacturing waste was recycled.
• The Centre for Waste Valorization (CVR) plays a crucial role in researching and developing recycling innovations.
• The city has installed dedicated bins for cigarette butt collection, with the collected waste being transformed into clay pots for plants.
• Equipment repair and reuse programs have been expanded to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste.
Enhancing Green Spaces and Biodiversity
Since 2012, Guimarães has significantly increased its green areas by 95.7 hectares and restored 64 km of water lines. These efforts have led to:
• A rise in the City Biodiversity Index (CBI) from 37 in 2013 to 90 today.
• Improved conditions for 37 threatened species, thanks to extensive habitat restoration.
• An increase of 1,300 recorded species in the city’s green zones.
Creating a More Livable City
Guimarães is actively transforming into a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly city while improving public transport accessibility:
• 48 km of new cycle paths have been developed.
• Pedestrian areas and parking restrictions are now integrated into all new urban projects.
• Public transport is on track to achieve full coverage in the near future.
• 46% of public transport now runs on electric buses.
• Local citizens receive a 50% discount on public transport, with free passes for residents under 23 planned for implementation.
• 57% of the population now lives within 300 meters of quiet zones, improving overall urban well-being.
With these ongoing initiatives, Guimarães is not just fulfilling the obligations of being a European Green Capital—it is setting a benchmark for cities worldwide striving for a greener, more sustainable future.
CREATING THE GUIMARÃES SPACE HUB
Guimarães, Portugal, is set to establish the Guimarães Space Hub, a technological center aimed at advancing the space sector, particularly focusing on “New Space” technologies.
The primary objectives of the Guimarães Space Hub is:
• Promoting Cooperation: Enhancing collaboration in the space sector among businesses, educational institutions, and research organizations across Northern Portugal and neighboring Spanish regions, such as Galicia and Castilla-Leon. (Space for Cities)
• Advancing Aerospace Research: Facilitating the development of new products and services in the aeronautics and space industries, leveraging the expertise of local institutions like the University of Minho’s School of Engineering and CEiiA (Centre of Engineering and Product Development). (Space for Cities)
By establishing the Space Hub, Guimarães aims to stimulate the local economy through the creation of high-skilled jobs and attract investment in the burgeoning space sector. And to provide avenues for academic programs and research initiatives in aerospace engineering, fostering a skilled workforce aligned with industry needs as well as to position itself as a key player in international space projects, such as the Atlantic Constellation—a joint Earth Observation initiative with Spain involving a constellation of satellites to monitor the Atlantic and forests.
Project Timeline
The collaboration protocol for the Guimarães Space Hub was signed on March 5, 2024. The project includes the development of the Atlantic Operations Centre, which aims to control a set of 16 satellites by the end of 2025. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the former Arquinho Factory to house the University of Minho’s Aerospace Engineering programs is expected to be completed by 2026 or 2027.
Through these strategic initiatives, Guimarães is poised to become a significant hub for space technology and research, contributing to regional development and the broader aerospace industry.
GUIMARÃES, A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Guimarães’ sustainability efforts go beyond recognition—they represent a model for urban transformation. The city’s ability to integrate citizen engagement, business collaboration, scientific research, and government action makes it a leading example of how municipalities can successfully transition toward climate neutrality, circular economy, and resilient urban development.
As Guimarães continues this journey, it not only fulfills its responsibility as European Green Capital 2026 but also paves the way for cities across the globe to follow.
WIN-WIN TEXTILES: PARTNERING WITH GUIMARÃES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
At Win-Win Textiles, we work closely with the city of Guimarães on a range of sustainability initiatives. We have signed the Climate Pact and will soon formalize our commitment by signing the Climate Contract, setting clear goals and obligations for our business.
Our engagement spans multiple projects, including URBACT Let’s Go Circular and DISTENDER, while our reforestation efforts under the Guimarães +Floresta initiative continue to gain momentum. Additionally, the Laboratório da Paisagem plays a crucial role in calculating our annual emissions and will support us in conducting a Double Materiality Assessment in 2025.
Francisca Seixas of Win-Win Textiles participating in an URBACT Let’s Go Circular workshop.
The Importance of Double Materiality
Double materiality is a holistic approach to assessing business impact. It considers both financial and non-financial risks and opportunities, providing a comprehensive view of how factors like climate change, biodiversity, and corporate governance affect—and are affected by—our operations. A strong double materiality assessment helps businesses navigate sustainability challenges while uncovering new opportunities for long-term success.
Although Double Materiality Assessments are required under the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), they are not mandatory for our company type. However, we see this process—along with our Climate Contract—as an opportunity to strengthen our business, deepen our collaboration with the city, and continue learning and evolving as a sustainable enterprise.
