#62 SMCNetZero Project: Cascais - Small City, Big Impact

31-01-2024 • 36 minutes

In this third episode of our SMCNetZero series, we had the pleasure of talking with João Dinis, Office Coordinator at Cascais Ambiente, a company owned by the Municipality of Cascais, Portugal which focuses on various aspects of environmental management and urban planning.

With him, we discussed Cascais' strategies for environmental challenges and net-zero emissions, highlighting smart waste systems, public transportation initiatives, and technology integration in governance. Our guest also provided insights into how Cascais is advancing towards sustainability through creative and community-focused approaches.

To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website.

Want to empower your city towards a Net-Zero future? SMCNetZero has launched a capacity-building training program that is free of cost for Small and Medium-sized Cities. All three capacity-building modules will connect you and your city into a strong, European city-based network. Learn more here!

Overview of the episode:

[00:02:53] Three emojis to describe Cascais, Portugal

[00:04:41] João's Professional Background

[00:07:22] How does Cascais Ambiente work with the city council?

[00:09:33] Leveraging innovation and technology in climate and sustainability

[00:12:15] Main challenges and strategies for achieving net zero in Cascais

[00:16:09] Circular economy and collaboration with the private market

[00:17:38] Cascais' involvement in EU projects like CLIMABOROUGH

[00:21:04] Lessons learned from European projects and local climate action

[00:24:43] Differences and challenges in innovation between small and large cities

[00:27:47] The importance of citizen engagement in sustainable development

[00:30:18] Shoutout: our guest mentions a city, an organisation or a person they think deserves more recognition in the field.