Last week, on 4 and 5 September, and on the occasion of the Festa Major, Viladecans had the honour of welcoming a delegation from the city of Águeda (Portugal), which, together with Vaasa (Finland), will be the next European Green Leaf 2026, taking over from Viladecans and Treviso.
The Águeda delegation consisted of its Mayor, Mr Jorge Almeida, Ms Célia Laranjeira, Director of Sustainability, Tourism and Climate Action, and Ms Gloria Costa, Director of Green Areas and Waste Management.
On the first day, the representatives from Águeda and Viladecans delegations shared their city strategies for sustainable urban planning: on behalf of Viladecans, Deputy Mayor Jordi Mazón presented the Mission to make Viladecans a carbon-neutral city by 2030, and Deputy Mayor Encarna Garcia explained how the city works as an ecosystem where, citizens and local stakeholders take an active part in city sustainable projects. On behalf of Águeda, Dr Célia Laranjeira outlined Águeda's strategies to ensure a green, sustainable and livable city with meaningful urban art and culture initiatives.
The second day of the visit began with a tour of Viladecans' double water management system, followed by a visit to ‘Viladecans Repara’, a municipal green point that offers workshops and advice to citizens on how to reduce and manage waste more efficiently. The delegation also had the opportunity to visit and walk around the Remolar-Filipinas Natural Area, an important wetland in Catalonia with a wealth of flora and fauna
A key moment of the visit was the official reception of the Águeda delegation by the Mayor of Viladecans, Ms Olga Morales, accompanied by three Deputy Mayors. Through this meeting, the political representatives of both municipalities reinforced the collaboration between the two cities that won the Green Leaf 2025 and 2026 awards to continue advancing in the construction of more sustainable and healthier cities. Mayor Olga Morales highlighted ‘the active involvement of the citizens of Viladecans in undertaking sustainable and environmentally friendly activities and initiatives, which reflects a deep level of awareness and commitment in the fight against climate change’.
A very inspiring and special moment of the visit was the session in which the Águeda delegation met the ‘Green Leaf Fans of Viladecans’, a programme promoted by Viladecans City Council to involve citizens, local entities, businesses, shops and schools in this outstanding year to implement actions that contribute to sustainability and environmental protection. To round off the visit, the Fans offered Agueda a torch designed and produced by themselves using recycled plastic and a 3D printer, on which they had written messages and wishes for the year in which Águeda will be European Green Leaf 2026. It was an emotional session in which both cities shared experiences and a common vision of involving the city's stakeholders in the ecological transition through joy and enthusiasm.
To conclude their visit to Viladecans, the representatives from Águeda attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 Festa Major in Viladecans, an exciting moment of celebration to round off an unforgettable and highly productive visit. This is just the beginning of a long-lasting collaboration between Águeda and Viladecans, two medium-sized cities with ambitious goals and a shared vision to advance the construction of sustainable and liveable cities.