“One-planet city”, European Green Capital and Energy Cities’ forum host: Guimaraes, will continue to inspire us in 2026

Guimarães is widely recognised for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, but for a bit more than a decade, our member city has developed a new narrative: one where sustainability lies at the core of its identity.  This commitment is so deeply embedded in its culture that it’s reflected in the city’s own motto: “the one planet city.”

A global vision and a collective action

In Guimarães, all stakeholders are engaged in the city’s climate-neutrality journey. The process began in 2013 with the establishment of the Guimarães 2030 Governance Ecosystem, which aligned climate-neutrality objectives with economic, social, health, and environmental co-benefits. In 2017, the city advanced this agenda through the Climate City Pact, encouraging signatories to adopt sustainable behaviours and coordinate strategies aimed at reducing the overall environmental footprint.

In the field of waste management, the city has been a national pioneer through the implementation of the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programme. The principle is clear: the more waste a household generates, the higher the associated waste-management fee. By contrast, recyclable materials are collected free of charge, incentivising residents to recycle and reduce residual waste. Guimarães is also aligned with the Zero Waste Europe strategy and has developed a dedicated local awareness initiative, RRRCICLO, which promotes the valorisation of household organic waste and strengthens the community’s role in circular-economy practices.

The city is green, featuring a river, an extensive green corridor, and a comprehensive greening strategy designed to keep residents closely connected to nature. Environmental protection is a central priority for the local community, which strongly supports municipal efforts to achieve a more sustainable balance between natural ecosystems and urban development. As a result of these measures, 97% of residents report experiencing good or very good air quality every day across the streets of Guimarães.

2026 European Green Capital: an outstanding distinction for all these efforts

As a culmination of decades of sustained environmental action, Guimarães has been awarded the title of EU Green Capital for 2026. The European Green Capital Award recognises cities that demonstrate strong commitment to the objectives of the European Green Deal, most notably the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

Guimarães received this distinction for its outstanding performance across multiple indicators, including air quality; noise management; water resources; biodiversity, green spaces, and land use; waste and circular-economy initiatives; climate-change mitigation; and climate-change adaptation.

Not to miss during the Energy Cities Annual Forum

A member of Energy Cities since 2007, Guimarães has been an active and engaged contributor to our network for many years. We are proud to invite all fellow members to visit Guimarães and witness firsthand the municipality’s sustained and concrete efforts over the past decades.

Across three days, forum participants will explore the city and its exemplary initiatives, with a strong focus on the following thematic areas: stakeholders’ engagement, affordable housing, inclusive energy communities, food democracy, and indirect emissions with the example of the textile industry. Each of these themes will be explored in depth during a full day dedicated to one specific challenge.

The programme will also feature networking opportunities, peer-to-peer exchanges, site visits, matchmaking sessions, and other components designed to ensure a productive and enriching experience for our members and for cities eager to learn more from our network.

Stay tuned, the full programme will be unveiled in January 2026.