Madeira moves forward with Carbon Neutrality Roadmap

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment is developing a Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality, in line with the revision of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CLIMA-Madeira). This initiative aims to strengthen regional commitments in the fight against climate change and ensure an effective response to environmental challenges.

The project is part of the Interreg PLANCLIMAC consortium, which involves partnerships with the Canary Islands and the Azores. According to Ara Oliveira, regional director for the Environment and the Sea, both documents will be fundamental for combining adaptation and mitigation measures, guiding regional climate action and ensuring that Madeira fulfils its international commitments.

These strategic instruments are essential for guiding public and private investment in areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, water management and public works. They also identify priorities and eligibility for available funding, making it possible to periodically assess the effectiveness of the investments made.

With the implementation of PLANCLIMAC, the region will have a fundamental tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Regional Low Carbon Roadmap will provide guidelines for the adoption of sustainable techniques and equipment, encouraging public administration and the business sector to reduce their carbon footprint.

Since 2006, Madeira has aligned its climate policy with European targets through programmes funded by INTERREG MAC. The revision of the CLIMA-Madeira Strategy will update the analysis of climate risks and vulnerabilities, focusing on the region’s most relevant economic and social sectors.

Some municipalities have been developing their own climate strategies, especially in territorial management and mobility. The global vision provided by CLIMA-Madeira will facilitate the creation and implementation of these local initiatives.

In recent years, the Regional Directorate for the Environment and the Sea has secured EU funding to develop tools and commitments that have led to significant advances in regional climate action. As soon as the regional budget allows, the procedures for revising the CLIMA-Madeira Strategy and drawing up the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality will begin.