International Conference Green Horizons brought together experts in Guimarães to discuss the environmental challenges of the future.

On March 10, the Teatro Jordão in Guimarães hosted the International Conference Green Horizons – Shaping the Modern Age. As part of the celebrations of Guimarães, European Green Capital 2026, the event reinforced the city’s role as a benchmark territory in promoting sustainability, innovation, and scientific tourism.

Organized by CVR – Center for Waste Recovery, in partnership with PIEP – Polymer Engineering Innovation Hub and the Landscape Laboratory, the conference brought together several prominent figures from the fields of politics, science, and innovation. Among them were the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves; the Mayor of Guimarães, Ricardo Araújo; the Chair of the Board of Directors of CVR, Professor Cândida Vilarinho, as well as Isabel Loureiro, Jorge Moreira da Silva, João Matos Fernandes, and Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, who contributed to a diverse and enriching debate on sustainability and ecological transition.

For Cândida Vilarinho, Chair of the Board of Directors of CVR, the organization of the Green Horizons event demonstrates the synergy with the European Green Capital initiative and the intention to help promote its objectives and mission. ‘CVR’s mission is to develop real solutions aimed at waste recovery so that waste is considered a resource, not only at the industrial level but also at the municipal level. Therefore, the European Green Capital creates a connection here that helps us achieve our goals,’ stated Cândida Vilarinho after her speech at the event’s opening ceremony.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves, congratulated CVR for the initiative and Guimarães for being awarded the title of European Green Capital. ‘This is an initiative that fully aligns with our objectives, which are to create a new generation of environmental and energy policies to enhance natural resources, build competitiveness, and do so in a sustainable way so that the future we want for everyone is fair, innovative, and prosperous.

The program also included the participation of representatives from leading organizations and institutions in a roundtable discussion, as well as technical visits, immersive experiences, sustainability tours, and cultural activities, promoting a multidisciplinary approach that combined scientific knowledge, innovation, and direct engagement with the territory.

With strong participation and a diverse program, the conference served as an important moment for reflection and knowledge sharing, contributing to consolidating Guimarães as an international stage for debate and innovation in sustainability and the circular economy.

Download the event photos here.