The Regional Government of the Azores and the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) hosted the international conference “Weather, Climate and the Economy” this week at the Ramo Grande Auditorium in Praia da Vitória, Terceira Island.
The conference held on July 29 examined the rising frequency and severity of extreme weather events and their socio-economic impacts, particularly in island and coastal regions.
Bringing together national and international experts in climate science, meteorology, economics, and public policy, the event served as both a call to action on climate resilience and a public milestone for the development of the Atlantic Climate Observatory (OCA), set to be established on the island.
In his opening remarks, José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, emphasized the archipelago’s disproportionate vulnerability to global climate change despite its minimal contribution to global emissions.
“We are at the forefront of Atlantic climate exposure, but we also have the potential to lead in international collaboration and innovation,” Bolieiro stated, citing upcoming investments in radar infrastructure and advanced monitoring across the region.
During the conference, IPMA’s climate specialist Ricardo Deus highlighted that the Azores are becoming one of the most data-resilient areas in Portugal, thanks to recent upgrades in meteorological and climate-tracking infrastructure.
These remarks were accompanied by the formal announcement that the Atlantic Climate Observatory (OCA) will be fully operational by late 2027, with its headquarters located at the historic José Agostinho Observatory in Angra do Heroísmo.
In January 2025, the Azorean Regional Government and IPMA (Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere) signed an agreement to establish the Atlantic Climate Observatory (OCA) in the Azores. OCA’s mission is to monitor greenhouse gases and key atmospheric parameters in the Atlantic, supporting climate-change research and transatlantic cooperation
The observatory complements existing climate science initiatives in the Azores, including the ENA ARM site on Graciosa Island and the PICO-NARE Observatory on Mount Pico. Together, these facilities form a strategic triad for Atlantic and transatlantic climate monitoring.
While ENA and PICO‑NARE already provide critical data on atmospheric dynamics and aerosol chemistry, the new Atlantic Climate Observatory (OCA) will expand the region’s climate-data infrastructure.
Collectively, these facilities position the Azores as a strategic Atlantic climate-monitoring hub, facilitating research into cloud dynamics, aerosols, greenhouse gases, and weather prediction.
The conference concluded with a shared commitment by stakeholders to continue strengthening international research partnerships, aligning regional strategies with the EU Green Deal, and ensuring small island territories are equipped to lead climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The conference program included a message from Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, and a video conference address by José Manuel Durão Barroso, former President of the European Commission, who outlined a global political vision for the climate challenge. This was followed by thematic panels featuring experts such as Kilaparti Ramakrishna (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute), Filipe Duarte Santos (National Environmental Council), José Poças Esteves (Crowe Advisory – SaeR), and Ana Teresa Perez (Portuguese Environment Agency), culminating in a roundtable discussion moderated by journalist Sidónio Bettencourt.
Also present at the opening session were the Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Pedro Catarino, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, the President of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), José Guerreiro, and the Mayor of Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira.
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
