The distinction, from the Blue Flag Association for the Environment and Education (ABAAE), recognises municipalities with a global index equal to or greater than 50% in the 21 indicators and 70 sub-indicators of public policies for environmental management and sustainable development.

In a statement, ABAAE reported that of the total of 62 applications received in 2024, 61 municipalities were distinguished, with the municipalities of Pombal, Oeiras, Águeda, Braga, Torres Vedras, Lousã, Leiria, Sintra, Santo Tirso, Nazaré, Estarreja, Cascais, Póvoa de Varzim, Matosinhos, Cantanhede, Torres Novas, Lagos, Mafra, Maia and Albergaria-a-Velha.

Among the indicators are the promotion of environmental education, sustainability in the areas of bathing, citizenship, governance and participation, employment, cooperation with civil society, certification of management systems, climate change, health and well-being, territorial planning: spaces public, planning and urban requalification, says the note.

The evaluators' results reflect “the good practices developed in favour of sustainable development, evidenced in the implementation of sustainability measures and political actions” that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says the association.

To apply for the ECOXXI Flag, municipalities must provide information regarding sustainable actions and activities implemented in the previous year, which are evaluated by a group of experts from the National Commission that includes more than 30 entities.

The ECOXXI Program, from the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education, was implemented in Portugal for more than 15 years.

The ceremony to hand over the ECOXXI Flag to the municipalities will be held this afternoon at Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, in Cascais, with the presence of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho.