The “PAB_LivingLab - Vive a descarbonização no Parque Adão Barata” project is coming to an end with a positive outcome. The urban park is now an example of a Living Laboratory for Decarbonization that contributes to a greener territory that is more resilient to Climate Change, focused on the benefits of adopting sustainable practices, with innovative technological solutions, for a sustainable future, in support of Goals 11 and 13 of the 2030 Agenda.

On Monday, 22nd of April , the Assembly Hall of the Marqueses da Praia and Monforte Palace, in Adão Barata Park, Loures, hosted the Final Project Conference, entitled “Living Laboratory - Decarbonization and Innovation in Adão Barata Park (PAB)”, an initiative promoted by AIDGLOBAL, in partnership with Loures City Council, Instituto Superior Técnico, bim+, dstsolar and innovationpoint, the aim of which was to present the main results achieved during the project's duration, between May 2021 and April 2024, and the innovative technological solutions implemented in the PAB, in order to turn it into a zero-carbon space.

The Conference was marked by the dissemination of the impact of the actions carried out by the project's partner entities in Adão Barata Park, which aim to promote a more resilient city adapted to Climate Change, capable of contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions and improving air quality, boosting renewable energies and the conservation of natural resources, promoting sustainable mobility, the use of public transport and investing in the circular economy.

The session was opened by Loures City Council councillor Nuno Dias and the Director of Prospective and Planning Services at the General Secretariat for the Environment, Susana Escária. Susana Damasceno, president of AIDGLOBAL's board of directors, presented the project and its context.

The second part of the meeting began with a presentation by Ana Catarina Sabino, a senior technician in the Energy and Sustainability Division of Loures City Council, who spoke about Climate Neutrality Strategies, giving the case of the PAB as an example.

This was followed by a presentation by the dstgroup's Head of Smart Cities and Business Development, Raúl Junqueiro, who briefly explained how Smart Cities work, highlighting the role of Loures as a smart city which, through the innovative strategies implemented in the Adão Barata Park, uses technology to create solutions for decarbonization.

Innovation Point, led by Ricardo Lopes, explained how IoT platforms work.

Thirdly, Marta Almeida, a researcher at the IST (Instituto Superior Técnico) in Lisbon, shared the results of the project, by axes of intervention, with regard to the environmental management of the PAB.

Next, dstsolar's innovation manager, Mauro Costa, highlighted the implementation of an intelligent and renewable energy community at the PAB, which today allows for the storage and sharing of solar energy and the transformation of buildings into equipment, with the aim of neutralizing or zeroing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Finally, João Marcelo Silva, General Manager and BIM+ Coordinator, showed the procedures and the main innovations in the digitalization of the Marqueses da Praia and Monforte Palace.

In order to encourage and publicize the impact of the work carried out over three years, the final project video was presented, followed by a guided tour of Adão Barata Park, where participants had the opportunity to get to know the sustainable technological innovations around reducing the carbon footprint up close.

At the end of this cycle of learning and a lot of collaborative work and united by the commitment to do more for environmental sustainability, AIDGLOBAL and its partners would like to thank the schools in the Municipality of Loures, the teachers, students, universities and the population who believed in and embarked on this project, trusting in the work to fulfill the project's mission: to reduce the carbon intensity of the activities and services of Parque Adão Barata (PAB), in Loures, through the implementation of innovative technological solutions!

Watch the video of the "PAB_LivingLab" Final Conference, here.

The “PAB_LivingLab - decarbonization in Adão Barata Park” project was funded by the EEA Grants Environment Programme, its promoter was AIDGLOBAL - Action and Integration for Global Development - and its partners were Loures City Council, the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, bim+, dstsolar and Innovation Point.