Duncan Crowley: Created page with "Lisbon was awarded the title of European Green CapitalLisbon, European Green Capital 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2020-lisbon..."

2020-06-02T12:21:03Z

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Lisbon was awarded the title of European Green Capital<ref>Lisbon, European Green Capital 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2020-lisbon/</ref> 2020 on June 21st 2018 by the European Commission, in recognition of its urban development towards a more sustainable city for all<ref>TheMayor.EU – Тhe European portal for cities and citizens; Lisbon and a more sustainable city for all https://www.themayor.eu/pt/congratulations-to-lisbon-the-winner-of-the-european-green-capital-award-2020</ref>. So while this does not mean it is Europe’s greenest city, it does mean that it has been implementing some very important changes in recent years. An Expert Panel highlighted<ref>Lisbon is the 2020 European Green Capital Award winner! https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/lisbon-is-the-2020-european-green-capital-award-winner/</ref> that Lisbon is particularly strong in the field of sustainable land use, sustainable urban mobility<ref>Cities Today; How Lisbon is reshaping its mobility landscape https://cities-today.com/how-lisbon-is-reshaping-its-mobility-landscape/</ref> (transport), green growth & eco innovation, climate change adaptation<ref>ECCA (The biennial European Climate Change Adaptation conference); Lisbon Climate Change Adaptation Strategy https://www.ecca2019.eu/lisbon-climate-change-adaptation-strategy/</ref> and waste. The wider city incorporates the Municipality of Lisbon<ref>Municipality of Lisbon https://www.lisboa.pt/</ref> and other municipalities surrounding it, to make up the Lisbon Metropolitan Area<ref>Lisbon Metropolitan Area https://www.aml.pt/index.php</ref>. The city's Green Capital 2020 also has its own website<ref>Lisboa Green Capital 2020 https://lisboagreencapital2020.com/en/</ref>.

Also in 2018, the European Commission launched a Call for Action for Sustainable Cities that aimed to create a “green movement”<ref>European Commission: European Green Capital Network Launches Call for Action for Sustainable Cities https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/european-green-capital-network-launches-call-for-action-for-sustainable-cities/</ref> to inspire cities worldwide to become more sustainable and climate-resilient (Related PDF<ref>European Commission: Green Capital Call for Action (PDF) https://greencapital2018.nl/app/uploads/2018/11/Green-Capital-Call-for-Action.pdf</ref>). The following year saw the emergence of such a movement, a global climate movement led by the Fridays For Future<ref>Atlas Lisboa; Demanding Change: Thousands Flood the Streets at Lisbon’s Global Climate Strike https://www.atlaslisboa.com/demanding-change-at-lisbons-global-climate-strike/</ref> school children’s movement<ref>It's Nice That: This week’s Guardian Weekly is a climate change special designed by children https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/guardian-weekly-climate-change-cover-print-150219</ref>, inspired by Greta Thunburg<ref>Women in the world: ‘I want you to panic’: Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, lays it on the line for world leaders https://womenintheworld.com/2019/01/29/i-want-you-to-panic-climate-activist-greta-thunberg-16-lays-it-on-the-line-for-world-leaders/</ref>, called Greve Climática Estudantil<ref>Greve Climática Estudantil https://www.facebook.com/greveclimaticaestudantil/</ref> in Portugal, and the UK based direct action group Extinction Rebellion<ref>Extinction Rebellion Lisboa https://www.facebook.com/LisboaXR/</ref>. A declaration of climate emergency<ref>Climáximo: Portuguese parliament declared climate emergency – and made sure it meant nothing https://www.climaximo.pt/2019/06/08/portuguese-parliament-declared-climate-emergency-and-made-sure-it-meant-nothing/</ref> was made by the Portuguese parliament in Lisbon on June 7th after months of heated public meetings<ref>Morar em Lisboa report on facebook of September 3rd meeting with Lisbon Council Ministry of Housing, inclusing concern over plans for Montijo airport development https://www.facebook.com/moraremlisboa.cartaaberta/photos/a.243990759358890/710143516076943/?type=1&theater</ref>, street protests, Live TV shows interrupted<ref>Climáximo (Climate Alert): ALERTA CLIMA: Extinction Rebellion Portugal invade a CMTV https://www.climaximo.pt/2019/04/16/alerta-clima-extinction-rebellion-portugal-invade-a-cmtv/</ref>, conference interruptions<ref>Stay Grounded: “There are no emergency exits” – ATERRA activists interrupt Portugal Air Summit https://stay-grounded.org/there-are-no-emergency-exits-aterra-activists-interrupt-portugal-air-summit/</ref> and road blockages<ref>Observador: PSP retira à força ativistas do clima que cortaram Av. Almirante Reis em Lisboa. Há um detido https://observador.pt/2019/09/27/oucam-a-greta-milhares-de-portugueses-juntam-se-a-greve-climatica/</ref>. Many of Lisbon’s “Green Movement” criticise the Council’s “Green Capital” label as an act of Greenwashing<ref>Extinction Rebellion Lisboa: We Denounce! LISBON - GREENWASHING CAPITAL OF EUROPE https://www.facebook.com/LisboaXR/posts/788679974934585</ref>, due to plans for building the new Lisbon-Montijo airport in an environmentally sensitive area on the southern side of the river after receiving the final green light<ref>Lisbob - Expats Assistant in Portugal, Spain and Italy: Definitive green light for the new Montijo-Lisbon airport? https://www.lisbob.net/en/blog/new-airport-montijo-lisbon-confirmed</ref> from the Portuguese Environment Agency in early 2020.

Like many European cities, touristification<ref>Migration to Portugal: The touristification of Lisbon http://www.transitsblog.com/language/en/2018/11/30/migration-to-portugal-the-touristification-of-lisbon/</ref>, gentrification<ref>New York Times: Lisbon Is Thriving. But at What Price for Those Who Live There? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/europe/lisbon-portugal-revival.html</ref> and short-term housing are driving up rents so quickly in Lisbon that many locals can no longer afford to pay and are moving out of their established communities in the city centre’s historical neighbourhoods. Portugal has still the lowest minimum wage in western Europe<ref>Reuters: Portugal to raise minimum wage to 635 euros, still lowest in western Europe https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-government-wages/portugal-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-635-euros-still-lowest-in-western-europe-idUSKBN1XN1LS</ref>, even after a recent 6% rise to 635 euros. In late 2019 Barcelona’s Ara.Cat deemed the city “The new capital of gentrification and evictions”<ref>Ara.Cat: Lisboa, la nova capital de la gentrificació i els desallotjaments (Lisbon, the new capital of gentrification and evictions) https://www.ara.cat/internacional/Lisboa-nova-capital-gentrificacio-desallotjaments_0_2320567954.html</ref>. In response, a growing housing movement<ref>Acção pela Habitação (Lisbon Housing Movement) https://www.facebook.com/habitaccao/</ref> has been active in stopping evictions<ref>Stop Despejos (Stop Evictions): Uma pressão que funciona: a CML vai dar alojamento às famílias despejadas no bairro bensaúde https://stopdespejos.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/uma-pressao-que-funciona-a-cml-vai-dar-alojamento-as-familias-desalojadas-do-bairro-bensaude/</ref>, building networks of resistance<ref>Reuters: Protesters denounce gentrification in Lisbon as housing prices soar https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-protests-housing/protesters-denounce-gentrification-in-lisbon-as-housing-prices-soar-idUKKCN1M20UM </ref>, holding public assemblies<ref>Huck Mag: In Portugal, protestors are fighting for housing rights ‘We are being expelled’ https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/activism-2/in-portugal-protestors-are-fighting-for-housing-rights/</ref>, making a radio station<ref>Radio Gabriela, Lisbon online Radio Station https://www.mixcloud.com/radio-gabriela/</ref>, demanding politicians make change and winning some policy changes<ref>Citylab: Portugal Passes ‘Right to Housing’ Law As Prices Surge https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/07/portugal-home-prices-basic-housing-law-lisbon-rent-eviction/593362/</ref>. The recent Documentary “What is going to happen here?”<ref>Left Hand Rotation: O que vai acontecer aquí? (What is going to happen here?) https://vimeo.com/357310878</ref> paints a vivid picture of the unjust urban change of recent years.

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Lisbon, a changing city - Revision history

Duncan Crowley: Created page with "Lisbon was awarded the title of European Green CapitalLisbon, European Green Capital 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2020-lisbon..."