As part of the “Protecting The Oceans”” initiative, Ocean Winds (a 50% joint venture between EDP Renováveis and ENGIE), the main promoter of the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic Project (the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm, located on the north coast of Portugal, about 20 kilometres off the coast of Viana do Castelo) has teamed up with Viana do Castelo City Council to help the institution deliver its environmental education and sustainability project.
The students from Escola EB 2.3 Carteado Mena, the team from the Town Hall (Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Interpretation), WindFloat Atlantic and the Ocean Winds team spent the afternoon at Rodanho beach collecting rubbish, thus removing more than 10 large bags filled with polystyrene, small bottles, small ropes or remnants of fishing net, medicine containers, fish boxes in pieces, oil drums, among other things.
“Protecting the Oceans” is an international initiative developed by Ocean Winds to join the fight against marine pollution and to increase the awareness of adults and the younger generation about the impacts of pollution and the importance of marine conservation and recycling. The beach clean-up is the third event promoted by Ocean Winds, with the first organised in Asturias, Spain, and the second at Fraserburgh beach in Scotland.
Through partnership with organisations such as Viana do Castelo City Council, Ocean Winds is working to deliver global environmental goals through local action and involvement.
The Viana do Castelo’s Environment Councillor, Fabíola Oliveira, said that environment and sustainability have been priorities for the Viana do Castelo municipality, so this clean-up is a praiseworthy initiative that deserved the support of the municipality from the off.
“We have to change behaviour. Stop thinking about ourselves and focus on the sustainability of the planet, so we must follow the guidelines of the SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals that represent an urgent call to action by all countries for a global partnership,” he emphasised.
“To see that Ocean Winds embraces these concepts as well and provides school audiences with an experience of environmental citizenship is great, and to be part of this project is a privilege and an opportunity we couldn’t miss. This way, we all win: students, teachers, the company, Viana do Castelo and the planet”, he emphasised.
José Miguel Pinheiro, Country Director for Southern Europe and Project Director of WindFloat Atlantic said, “Ocean Winds and WindFloat Atlantic are pleased to announce this partnership with the Municipality of Viana do Castelo, as it marks the beginning of a series of projects within the scope of our social investment policy, with the aim of bringing wellbeing and value to the Vianense community and preparing new generations, contributing in a pioneering way to raising awareness of the importance of renewable energy, the environment and sustainability.”
