Porto

Portugal

Mission city Pilot city
Portugal National Platform
Porto Mission City Label
Population 230k
City Area 105.4 km²
City active since June 2022

The city of Porto, affectionately named "Invicta", carries profound cultural significance for its local identity. This nickname, translating to "Undefeated" or "Unconquerable", pays homage to a historical feat during which the city resisted conquest during the civil war and endured a siege of more than a year, embodying the community's will and strength. With the same tenacity with which we resisted sieges and faced adversities, today we position ourselves at the forefront of the fight against climate change, not because it is easy, but because it is imperative.

 

This is our commitment to the Planet and to future generations. In this effort, everyone is called to become an agent of change, collaborating to transform the carbon neutrality by 2030 ambition into a reality. This call to action not only reflects our commitment to a sustainable future but also underscores our co-creative identity, essential in redefining what it means to be "Invicta". In this context, we are mobilizing a diversity of stakeholders – from anonymous citizens to large corporations, including academic institutions and community organizations. Together, we are strengthening the fabric of our city with each initiative, each project, each collaborative action, collectively committing to forging a sustainable and resilient future. Through this union of efforts, we redefine what it means to be "Invicta" in the 21st century, fully embracing the challenge of leading by example in the transition to carbon neutrality.

Key Learnings

Reducing the climate impact of mobility in Porto

Porto is tackling transport emissions with new vehicles and behaviours. Transport accounts for 39% of total emissions in Porto and the city is focusing significant efforts on the sector - its municipal fleet and public transport in particular.

Governance Innovation and Implementation in the Cities Mission - Reflexive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) in City Climate Governance

This report explores Reflexive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) as a vital component of urban climate governance within the EU Cities Mission. It underscores the value of adaptive, inclusive governance practices that facilitate ongoing stakeholder collaboration, iterative learning, and comprehensive evaluations. The comparative analysis of four cities: Barcelona Cluj-Napoca Košice Porto. It highlights diverse, innovative approaches tailored to local contexts. Barcelona features centralized structures emphasizing health and equity co-benefits, while Cluj-Napoca prioritizes extensive citizen participation. Košice employs a structured, multi-level approach with formalized reviews, and Porto integrates structured periodic reviews with robust public communication strategies. Despite distinct approaches, the cities encounter shared challenges, notably methodological difficulties in quantifying qualitative co-benefits, maintaining consistent public engagement, resource limitations, and integrating MEL findings into policy processes. To overcome these, cities adopt innovative solutions such as citizen science, data integration platforms, and structured public storytelling events. The report concludes that reflexive MEL significantly enhances cities' climate neutrality efforts by enabling informed decision-making and robust stakeholder collaboration. It recommends increasing dedicated resources, standardizing methodologies, enhancing technical infrastructure, and encouraging structured peer-to-peer exchanges to improve cities' resilience and responsiveness to evolving climate challenges.
View all Porto Resources

Latest updates from the city

Pilot project spotlight
Read Porto Climate City Contract Valongo City Profile (Twin City)

External projects

City involvement in related European initiatives