Connecting Science, Policy, and Community: The Climate Centre of Póvoa de Varzim

The Climate Centre of Póvoa de Varzim, created in 2024 by the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim, BIOPOLIS, and the Parish of São Pedro de Rates, aims to connect knowledge transfer, public policy, and community engagement through climate and environmental action.

This presentation invites CIBIO researchers to get to know the Climate Centre of Póvoa de Varzim, its mission, vision, and strategic goals and projects, and to explore opportunities for collaboration and joint initiatives.

Carla Gonçalves is a Portuguese landscape architect with an MSc in Regional and Urban Planning. She completed her PhD in Spatial Planning at the University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, and the Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment in 2025. She is currently the Executive Director of the Climate Centre of Póvoa de Varzim and an Assistant Professor in the Architecture program at Fernando Pessoa University. She had also been involved in teaching landscape architecture at the University of Porto (2015-2022) and served as a Board member and Treasurer of the NGO CIVILSCAPE from 2018 to 2021. Her research focuses on coastal landscape governance, blue economy, landscape planning, and green infrastructure.