SDSN Ireland and SDSN Portugal Explore New Pathways for Local Sustainability Action
SDSN Ireland Manager Dr. John Barimo met with SDSN Portugal Manager Maria João Filgueiras Rauch in Braga to share network development insights and explore future collaborations focused on localising the SDGs. Their discussions took place against the backdrop of two Portuguese cities—Braga and Guimarães—emerging as sustainability leaders in Europe.
Spotlight on Braga: A Local Pioneer in SDG Implementation
They were warmly received by Mr. Helder Costa, the Braga Mayor Richard Rey’s Sustainability Advisor, who shared sound insights into the Municipality of Braga’s innovative strategies for localising the 2030 Agenda. With strong political commitment and a comprehensive Voluntary Local Review (VLR), the city has evaluated its SDG progress using an innovative and bespoke Municipal Sustainability Index—Europe’s first such tool. Developed in partnership with the Universidade Católica’s CESOP research centre, this index tracks 97 indicators across 61 SDG targets. As of 2019, Braga had already achieved 69% of the SDGs, demonstrating the city's early leadership in sustainable urban planning.
Braga’s commitment to long-term sustainability is also reflected in its collaboration with local stakeholders and regional institutions, fostering an inclusive and measurable approach to development.
Guimarães: Leading by Example as European Green Capital 2026
Their next meeting was with sustainability leaders from Guimarães, recently named the European Green Capital for 2026. The 2 SDSN Managers were well received by the Executive Director of the Landscape Laboratory of Guimarães (LdP), Dr. Carlos Ribeiro and his team who shared insights and lessons learned from their collaborative journey. LpD is a hub for environmental research and education in collaboration with the University of Minho and Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. At the foundation of their work with community engagement and education which led to positive and transformative impacts initially focused on local streams. Since 2014, LdP has led projects on eco-efficiency, biodiversity, and water management, with a clear focus on translating scientific knowledge into policy and practice.
Network Collaboration for Climate Neutral Cities
SDSN Ireland Manager John Barimo was invited to moderate a LDnet Webinar, EU Climate neutral cities by 2050, a serious challenge for European cities! How to respond to this challenge in a successful way? This topic is at the heart of the European Green Deal and is the crux of a legally binding target in European Climate Law with cities which is at the forefront of this challenge.
Dr. Barimo moderated a session on Sustainability and Climate Action in Small and Medium-Sized Cities. Speakers highlighted how smaller cities like Guimarães can have a global impact when civic leadership, participatory planning, and technological innovation align. Professor Isabel Loureiro, New University of Lisbon, presented on the underlined importance of community-driven climate strategies and embedding sustainability into education to benefit future generations.
Participants also learned about the AYR Platform, presented by Diogo Fernandes Gonçalves of CEiiA. This cutting-edge tool allows cities to track and tokenize real-time carbon savings, promoting behavioral change and supporting the creation of local carbon markets. Alongside Guimarães, the city of Valencia—European Green Capital 2024—was profiled by Antonio Garcia as an example of integrated urban sustainability through mobility, public space design, and citizen engagement.
The exchange between SDSN Ireland and SDSN Portugal highlights the transformative power of local action in achieving global goals. From pioneering sustainability indices to creative carbon tracking platforms, these Portuguese cities are helping shape a climate-neutral and sustainable Europe.
🎥 Watch the webinar recording on YouTube
LDnet is an informal network set up in 2011 to bring together knowledge and people in local development across rural, coastal and urban areas in Europe and beyond.
