The Sustainability Strategy of Cascais

June 2012

The municipality of Cascais is located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. It is bordered to the west and South by the Atlantic Ocean. It is also bordered to the North by the Sintra mountain range. The Oeiras municipality borders Cascais on the East side.

206.000 inhabitants Área 97.100 km

The municipality has six

districts:

Cascais

Alcabideche

Estoril

Parede

Carcavelos

São Domingos de Rana

Its geographical location, with very different biophysical habitats, creates an unique landscape with white sand beaches and cliffs. The southern slope of the Sintra mountains is predominantly forest with natural scenery and a vast array of biodiversity. This landscape is well protected by a natural park that extends to one third of the municipality’s area.

The development of Cascais was linked to its coastal location, privileging fishing and agricultural activities. In 1640, Cascais played an important role in the defense of Lisbon. This reinforced the construction of military fortifications. During the XX century, the municipality became the resort of several European royal houses due to Portugal’s neutral stand in World War II. This reinforced Cascais as a prime region for tourism.

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

In the last 30 years, Lisbon’s competitiveness as the strongest economic region in Portugal helped Cascais to become an important and dynamic economic center. Cascais not only focused on tourism-related activities and services, but also on technology and trade activities.

With an extensive cultural heritage from centuries of historic influences, Cascais also has a variety of infrastructures (hotels, golf courses, roads and public transportation) and a wide range of facilities that promote a better quality of life (hospitals and health centers, schools and university, sports and local services).

Oitavos Golf course

Among the many responsibilities of territorial management (improving local quality of life and economic growth) the Cascais Council is the entity responsible for implementing policies that promote local sustainability. In 1996 the Mayor signed the Aalborg Commitments, initiating a series of activities to promote Sustainable Development in the region. To coordinate this effort, the Agenda Cascais 21 Office was created. This office, with the close collaboration of the local stakeholders and local community, drives the implementation of actions that promote the principles of Local Agenda 21.

Cascais bay Town Hall

With considerable political effort to promote local Sustainable Development, the city council created a thoughtful/comprehensive Sustainability Strategy. This is a critical document for the future of our region. It started with the monitoring of sustainability statistical indicators. These in turn led to the definition of a vision of where we want to go in the next decade.

Sustainability Strategy of

Cascais

objectives

Sustainability Strategy of Cascais

We need to define the course of action based on where we are and where

we want to be. Therefore, defining a vision for the future and the

priorities to be acted upon.

Actions for Sustainable Development are by mobilizing of local

stakeholders and communities.

This strategy is, above all, a vision with a relevant context for action,

focusing on a shared responsibility for a horizon that extends to 2020.

methodology Sustainability Strategy of Cascais

Evaluation

Are we in the right direction?

»

Monitoring report

Planning and implementation

Choose the course of action

»

Action plan

Commintment for sustainability

Starting point

»

Sustainabilty policy

Current status

Where are we?

»

Sustainabilty report

Definition of goals

Where do we want to go? How?

»

Srategic vision

Local

Sustainability

System

“Cascais, is a relevant municipality on an international scale. It is a cooperative, with a modern governance based on a network of mutual trust among stakeholders. The location has

a prestigious territorial intelligence that rationalizes

the use of its natural landscape and resources. A municipality

that takes proper advantage of its geostrategic position.

A territory marked by its civil society. All the inhabitants,

workers and visitors add a high value on the local quality of life

And therefore provides an economic thrust.”

Strategic Axis

To implement the vision proposed by the strategy and to cover all the

essential elements of Sustainable Development, the strategic axis

groups together a set of operational measures:

AXIS 1. CASCAIS, A TERRITORY WITH URBAN QUALITY OF LIFE

AXIS 2. CASCAIS, A TERRITORY OF CREATIVITY, KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION

AXIS 3. CASCAIS, A TERRITORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

AXIS 4. CASCAIS, A TERRITORY OF SOCIAL COHESION

AXIS 5. CASCAIS, A TERRITORY OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

Axis 1

Cascais, a territory with urban quality of life

Axis 1

Cascais, a territory with urban quality of life

■ Create a dense and articulate urban network that contains urban sprawl;

■ Structure a multinuclear urban network, overcoming the coastal/hinterland differences;

■ Qualify the urban design and service to the local community’s needs.

1.1. To promote the territory’s polycentrism and compactness

■ Public spaces that prioritize pedestrian needs;

■ Increase comfort in urban leisure and green park areas;

■ Qualification /renovation /upgrading of degraded public urban areas;

■ Planning of an urban infrastructure network.

1.2. To create quality urban areas

■ Enhance the public transportation network;

■ Create a cycling and pedestrian network;

■ Promote the intermodal passenger public transportation.

1.3. Promoting territorial connectivity

Axis 1

Cascais Masterplan

The Cascais territorial Masterplan is currently under a revision process. It will enhance the knowledge about soil use and the human environment. It will have modern planning tools to respond to the contemporary challenges in environmental planning, and also in terms of economic competitiveness. We need to reassure that all urban growth is contained in a denser design in order to promote energy efficiency and the maintenance of natural habitats.

Axis 1

“BusCas” bus

“BusCas" is an urban bus service that runs an urban circuit inside the village of Cascais. This transport is intended to be an alternative to private vehicles and to facilitate passenger intermodal commuting transit between public and private transport. It has a high frequency (every 10 minutes) and reduced pricing/cost. It is also provides ease of access for people with reduced mobility such as the elderly.

Axis 1

Cycling lanes and pedestrian paths

Cascais encourages and promotes sustainable mobility with the provision of bike lanes and pedestrian paths along the main roads. With an extension of16km, the bike lanes provide the opportunity to enjoy the advantages of this vehicle (both for commuting and leisure) while enjoying all the beauty of the coastline.

Axis 1

BiCas

Cascais provides free bicycles for commuting or pleasure. It is intended to encourage the use of public transportation and soft mobility such as walking or by riding a bicycle. The BiCas include a number of electric powered bicycles charged by solar power. This serves the purpose of demonstrating new zero emission technologies.

Axis 1

Urban Green Parks

In Cascais there are three kinds of Green Parks: Nature Parks, Historical Parks and Urban Parks. They share the promotion of biodiversity values and are also promoted as spaces where people and nature interact as part of the natural heritage of the municipality of Cascais. These spaces are important anchors for the quality of urban life and a healthy urban environment in line with biodiversity and natural heritage.

Axis 1

Urban Allotments

This project aims to promote

sustainable horticulture in the

Municipality.

The "Community Allotments“ provide

spaces for horticulture and gardening.

They use less resources than traditional

gardens. The scheme also promotes

community management in public

spaces with inter-generational

recreation.

The "Home Gardens" project is intended

for residents who have a private space

and are wishing to acquire skills to

create their own allotment with a wide

variety of horticultural products.

The project "School Gardens" promotes

school gardens through the collective

work between the teachers, gardeners

and students.

Axis 1

The Estoril Seawall

The seawall was built to prevent coastal erosion and to connect all of the beaches in Cascais bay. Only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed along the 3 km route that also contains numerous terraces and restaurants for leisure and contemplation.

Axis 1

Pisão Ecological Farm

The Pisão Ecological Farm is located at the foot of the Serra de Sintra in 450 hectares of natural park. This includes the in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, the Natura 2000 network and the UNESCO "world heritage“ area. It aims to safeguard the locality’s natural, cultural and historical heritage. It is an important asset for the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, since it is the largest natural public space in the region.

Axis 2

Cascais, a territory of creativity, knowledge and innovation

Axis 2

Cascais, a territory of creativity, knowledge and innovation

■ Use and enhance Cascais geopolitical position;

■ Establish new companies and attract professionals, particularly with creative potential;

■ Develop partnerships with universities.

2.1. Promote “coopetition”: cooperating to compete

and add territorial intelligence

■ Leverage of the economic dynamics to promote excellence in tourism activities;

■ Promotion of cultural and natural landscape;

■ Create cultural tours and events of international impact;

■ Create a new cluster in life and health sciences.

2.2. Stimulate high profile economic activities

Axis 2

DNA Cascais

The DNA Cascais Agency contributes, by all appropriate

means, to the promotion, encouragement and development

of entrepreneurship in general, with particular emphasis on

youth and social entrepreneurship.

Its main areas of action are to develop skills and knowledge

through the encouragement of creativity and innovation.

To meet these challenges, they have developed a Corporate

Nest for new businesses, to provide support from Business

Angels and custom consulting.

Entrepreneurship is also promoted within the student

community with a complete range of educational activities on

this subject.

Axis 2

Tourism

Cascais is a major national tourist region, holding far-reaching brands. It is the first demarcated region for tourism in Portugal. A region with a strong offer of quality hotels, where two thirds of the offer are 4 and 5 star hotels. It has seven golf courses with 18 holes, the largest casino in Europe, a Marina, a Congress Center, Racecourse and a local Airfield. Cascais has a strong advantage with factors such as its proximity to Lisbon’s international airport and being well inside the center of the Lisbon Metropolitan area’s economic and cultural activities. Cascais has the potential to become a major player in European tourism.

Axis 2

Events

Cascais has been promoting a wide range of initiatives and events to strengthen the municipality as a national and international cultural reference. Cascais has become the scene of great events, which broadly satisfies all audiences, regardless of their age or cultural preferences. Some examples are the America's Cup, the Audi Med Cup, the circuit RC 44, the Estoril Conferences, the Estoril Tennis Open, the MotoGP race. Cascais promotes music and cultural events such as the International JazzFest, and art events in our local museums.

Axis 2

Environmental education

Energy Kids

The Mac Club

The Cascais’ City Council promotes various educational programs and environmental awareness in diverse themes: energy, biodiversity, waste and marine resources. Programs such as Clean-up Atlantic, Sea Kit, Energy Kids Club and “Mac” are very useful/effective to inform/qualify all of the schooling community to promote Sustainable Development awareness.

Cascais’s Ocean Kit

Axis 2

ArteMar Estoril

The ArteMar Estoril is a competition / exhibition of outdoor sculpture. This event aims to distinguish art works with both a high aesthetic quality and a strong ecological message. The sculptures have been made with materials from the sea or, in

some way, this element has been represented symbolically. It also promotes the sensitizing of public opinion to the importance of the protection of the sea and coastal resources.

Axis 2

LandArt Cascais

The LandArt is a movement that emerged in the USA during the 60s as the result of an artistic connection

between man and nature.

This connection was considered to be better understood within natural areas, thus promoting art exhibitions

outside the usual art galleries.

The LandArt Cascais exhibition aims to promote an intimate connection between the landscape, man and art.

Axis 2

Footpaths

The National Institute for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity promotes, together with the City Council, walking routes and cycle paths within the protected Natural Area of the Sintra-Cascais National Park. These pathways are an important resource for qualified nature tourism in protected areas and to promote these as an important tourism resource without adding risk to its natural resources.

Axis 3

Cascais, a territory of environmental values

Axis 3

Cascais, a territory of environmental values

■ Waste reduction;

■ Implementation of the urban ecological framework;

■ Efficient use of water resources

■ Promote energy efficiency;

■ Preservation of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

3.1. Reducing our ecological footprint

■ Promote education and environmental awareness;

■ The City Council as a good example of Sustainable Development.

3.2. Encourage an

environmental consciousness

Axis 3

The Crismina Dunes Environmental Interpretation Center

This is an infrastructure for the environmental interpretation of the largest dune system in Cascais. It is further complemented with activities for the recovery of native vegetation and dunes. It includes elevated pathways along all the dune system.

Axis 3

AquaGis Cascais

Aqua Sig Cascais – Chart for Environmental Sensitivity of the Cascais coastal zone is a conservation plan in a GIS (Geographic Information System) platform for the environmental management of the coast. It allows for the consultation of information about the marine and coastal area of Cascais in a simple and accessible online communication platform. The information provided is intended to contribute to support the management processes in the municipality, particularly, for the implementation of socio-economic activities and tourism. Also for environmental protection: the identification of areas sensitive to human pressure and the implementation of response actions in case of marine pollution.

Axis 3

The Environmental Interpretation Center of Pedra do Sal – Estoril (CIAPS)

This infrastructure was built in 2005 by the National Office for Water Management. It was designed to promote education about the diversity and richness of the coastal biodiversity in the Avencas beach, which is classified as a Biophysical Interest Zone (ZIBA). Due to its location and design, it is included in the Great European Pedestrian Route. CIAPS is considered as the first "Zero Energy Building" in Portugal due to its neutral emission construction (with energy co-generation from wind and solar power) thus decreasing the "ecological footprint“ , and making it increasingly self-sufficient in energy terms.

Axis 3

Eco-hut

The Eco-hut results from a conceptual exercise in search for a minimal footprint habitation or living infrastructure. The idea was to create accommodation for inhabitants or visitors in natural areas, maintaining a minimal intervention and soil impact. The first prototype is located near the Gandarinha Urban Park and is used as a Nature Tourism information center. It was built with natural materials including cork.

Axis 3

Project Oxigen

Axis 3

Natura Observa

The City Council promotes a program of youth volunteering in the area of environment and nature conservation. Natura Observa is aimed at young people between 15 and 30 years old. The volunteers are asked to provide some of their leisure time in the school vacation (July to September) to the defense of local natural heritage. It also aims to develop an environmental monitoring program and a policy of public participation in the maintenance and management of the countryside. Annually, more than 300 young people contribute with more than 20 000 hours of volunteer work.

Axis 3

Hunting Watts

The Hunting Watts aims to help householders to reduce energy waste in their homes and adopt best practices in energy efficiency. The service consists of an energy audit performed by the technicians of "Hunting Watts Brigade“. They measure the consumption patterns of the house by identifying the points of excessive consumption in energy (gas, water) and electric appliances. They then compare them to more efficient appliances available in the market. After the audit, the householder is given a report with the final diagnosis with the best practice recommendations. The adoption of recommended energy efficiency measures may help householders to save around €110 per year.

Axis 3

Covenant of Mayors

Cascais is a member of the Covenant of Mayors. This is where 350 municipalities have joined together in a the project that aims to reduce up to 20 percent of the greenhouse gases by 2020. Cascais is committed to engage in the fight against global warming, since the cities and municipal districts are directly and indirectly responsible for more than half of emissions. In order to achieve these objectives, all stakeholders must work together. From the citizens to local authorities.

Axis 3

ECO XXI

The ECOXXI Project seeks to recognize good sustainability practices developed at the municipal level. It consists of acquiring statistical indicators that are considered fundamental to the construction of Sustainable Development. This is founded upon two pillars: education towards sustainability and environmental quality. Cascais has participated since 2006, and has achieved outstanding ratings on the national scene/level. The ECOXXI is the most relevant set of statistical indicators for sustainability and an important tool for monitoring the performance of the municipality.

Axis 3

Hybrid Fleet

The fleet of the City Council is around 250 cars. In general, all vehicles have low capacity engines which reduces emissions. About 35 vehicles in the fleet are hybrids, reinforcing the strategy of reducing fuel consumption and related emissions. The municipality is also part of the MOBI-E European network (charging electric vehicles), with many charging stations around the urban areas.

Axis 3

Goal 66 Goal 66 is a strategic plan

prepared by the Cascais Environmental Agency (EMAC) and aims to be an effective response to Article 66 of the Portuguese Constitution that governs the protection of the environment and quality of life. In this sense, EMAC has developed and is implementing various programs and projects in Cascais, aimed to stimulate intervention in education for Sustainable Development.

Axis 4

Cascais, a territory of social cohesion

Axis 4

Cascais, a territory of social cohesion

■ Development for an inclusive territory, for all generations;

■ Eliminate urban segregation;

■ Reinforce urban regeneration policies;

■ Reduce regional disparities;

■ Development of safe environments.

4.1. Promote social diversity

■ Enhance accessibility to quality services;

■ Promote social entrepreneurship;

■ Governance towards urban identity;

■ Promote sport as an enhancer of healthy lifestyles.

4.2. Promote Social Inclusion

Axis 4

Social entrepreneurship

The municipality helps the creation of enterprises by citizens who otherwise would have difficulty, by themselves, in accessing financial and legal mechanisms. The aim of social entrepreneurship is also to promote the creation of enterprises which fill social deficiencies found in the Cascais area. This work is conducted in a fruitful partnership with the Institute of Social Entrepreneurship (IES).

The sports policy of the City Council incentivizes a wide range of sport activities and aims to have more and better athletes. This action is centered by building competitive sport facilities along with local organizations and national sport federations.

Axis 4

Sports

The challenges raised by a Sustainable Development Strategy unconditionally leads to an Integrated Management of Coastal Zones and its resources. With about 30 km of coastline, Cascais has a rich coastal landscape. The tourism and maritime activities have a historical significance and are very relevant to the local economy. In addition, the local identity is highly associated with fishing, surfing and yachting activities.

Axis 4

Coastal Protection

In the early 70’s of the XX century, there was a major rural to urban internal migration due to the economic growth in Portugal and particularly in Lisbon. With the demand surpassing the offer of housing in Lisbon and with the low cost of terrains in the suburbs, Cascais had an enormous growth of illegal housing and slums. This created a relevant problem in urban management that had to be tackled with the legalization of the “spontaneous” neighborhoods and the implementation of mandatory infrastructures (drainage, waste management, water, etc.). These illegal housing neighborhoods, were extended to 10km2 and affected a population of 40 000 inhabitants. With technical surveys, 257 illegal neighborhoods were identified. Currently, 69% of these areas are already legalized, 25% are pending licensing and only 6% are pending authorization from the natural park management. These policies are intended to promote urban transformation in Cascais, focusing on quality public and residential spaces.

Before

After

Axis 4

Urban Housing Regeneration

Building drainage and sewage infrastructures

Axis 4

The Social Plan of Cascais analyzes various valences/areas of social action and sets a strategy for social inclusion. It reflects a vision to make Cascais a socially cohesive territory. The plan surveys the needs of the population in the social area, it seeks to target investments (public and private) in order to promote the improvement in supply of social services and infrastructures. Cascais promotes a network of facilities and social services that are evenly distributed and have high levels of effectiveness and efficiency.

Social Plan

Axis 5

Cascais, a territory of active citizenship

Axis 5

Cascais, a territory of active citizenship

■ Promotion of local democracy and active citizenship;

■ Develop community spirit;

■ Promote volunteerism and social responsibility.

5.1. Promote Local governance

It is a mechanism for participatory democracy that allows/enables citizens to decide how to apply a portion of the municipal investment budget. With a budget of €2 100 000, citizens are invited to identify, discuss and prioritize projects for Cascais. After a voting process among the participants, and the validation of projects by the municipality technical team, all chosen projects will undergo a general voting process with all of the interested population. For the winning projects, a sum of the available budget will be implemented/allotted. The participatory budget provides the City Council with a closer view of the community's priorities and citizens gain a greater awareness of local financial resources.

Participatory session

Winners of the 1st edition

Axis 5

Participatory Budget

The City Council aims to facilitate governance with all the local communities and stakeholders. The local Agenda 21 office is responsible for leading these strategies and actions, along with all the City Council’s departments and partners. With a bottom-up approach , it promotes citizen involvement in decision making. The Bosque dos Gaios park is an example of a process initiated by the local Residents Association. The local community wanted to redevelop a local pine forest. With the help of the Local Agenda 21, and after two sessions with public participation, the result was the implementation/establishment of a 3 hectares urban green park with leisure and rest equipment.

The Bosque dos Gaios session to promote a green park

The inauguration

Axis 5

Public Participation

Volunteering

Cascais promotes the Local Volunteer Bank (BLVC) which establishes a mutual strategy between entities and citizens who wish to help humanitarian causes. Such diverse areas as civic education, culture, heritage conservation and the environment, social action and health. The BLVC, sponsored by the City Council, in partnership with the National Council for the Promotion of Volunteering, has the objective to sensitize citizens and organizations about volunteering. This includes, publicizing projects and opportunities, also, the provision of information on volunteering, and the promotion of training actions for everybody that enables the exploration of their civic duty.

Axis 5

In order to establish a more efficient link between the citizens of Cascais and Local Environmental Agency, EMAC) the City Council promoted the “Neighborhood tutor”. A monitoring program that enlists citizens to help with the management of urban cleaning, waste collection, green parks and playgrounds within their residential area. It is intended to involve the local community, therefore connecting with the knowledge that residents have on important issues that each neighborhood faces. Thus, the Council has a greater proximity to the citizens’ needs and act quickly on problems identified (with efficiency, effectiveness, speed and cost reduction).

Axis 5

Neighborhood Tutor

Axis 5

The City Council provides a Geographic Information System platform on its website. This platform allows for consultation and use of a very varied set of geo-referenced information. This goes from urban processes and licensing, education, health, environment, etc.). The WebGis platform is an important tool for transparency in municipal management and an important resource for academic and scientific work.

Geographical Information System - WebGis

Institutional and project links:

Cascais’ Town Council http://www.cm-cascais.pt/ Cascais Natura Agency - http://www.cascaisnatura.org/ Cascais Energia Agency– www.cascaisenergia.org Sintra-Cascais Natural Park - http://portal.icnb.pt/ICNPortal/vPT2007-AP-SintraCascais?res=1024x768 Cascais Atlântico - http://www.cascaisatlantico.org/ DNA Agency – www.dnacascais.pt Generation C – www.geracao-c.com Local Agenda 21 - http://agendacascais21.net/ Emac – www.emac-em.pt Cascais próxima Agency - http://www.cm-cascais.pt/empresa-municipal/cascais-proxima Volunteering Bank- http://www.cascaisvoluntario.org/ Urban Allotments- http://hortasdecascais.org/conteudo.php