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Lisbon wins European Green Capital award

Published : 23 Jun 2018, 00:02

DF-Xinhua Report

A man rides a bicycle at a bike-share station in Lisbon, Portugal, Sept. 19, 2017. A new bike sharing system was launched in Portuguese capital of Lisbon on Tuesday with 100 bikes at 10 stations available for public use. File Photo Xinhua.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa congratulated Lisbon on Friday for winning the European Green Capital Award for 2020, saying that it will be "an excellent opportunity" to adopt measures that promote environmental protection.

In a message posted on the Presidency's website, Rebelo de Sousa said, "It will be an excellent opportunity to continue promoting awareness and adopting measures that promote environmental protection, within the framework of major contemporary challenges such as the response to climate change and the environmental sustainability of cities, as well as recognition of the work done so far."

Lisbon has won the European Green Capital of 2020 award, the European Union's Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella announced on Thursday at a ceremony held in the Netherlands.

According to the European Commission, the award is given annually with the aim of recognizing the efforts of cities with a plan to become environmentally friendly and involving their people in environmental, social and economic sustainability.

In addition to the title, Lisbon receives a financial incentive of 350,000 euros from the European Commission to move forward with its green capital year.