On 22 April 2025, to mark Earth Day, a seminar within the GreenPaths project was held at CES in Coimbra, Portugal. The event brought together researchers, activists, social movements, NGOs, postdoctoral students and civil society representatives to discuss key issues surrounding the green transition and renewable energy in Portugal.
Held in Portuguese, the seminar formed part of a month-long exhibition featuring books, informational materials and audio testimonies on mineral extraction, alongside key texts on critical ecology, new extractivism and green transitions, all acquired with GreenPaths funding.
Complementing the seminar, CES partnered with a local cinema to host a special pre-release screening of A Savana e a Montanha, a powerful new documentary-drama about lithium mining in the Barroso region. The screening was followed by a Q&A with CES researcher Mariana Riquito and local residents featured in the film.
Together, the seminar, exhibition and film screening helped to promote the GreenPaths project, highlighting the social impacts of green transition policies – particularly in the energy sector – and directly linking to case studies being developed by CES under the GreenPaths framework.
Interest in the 3 intiatives showed there was a national interest in these topics and discussions on protecting the countries natural resources as well as combating climate change. It also brought together grassroots activists, national policymakers and academic researchers to jointly reflect on what a fair and inclusive green transition might entail in Portugal and internationally.
