Hugo Pinto: Inspiring youth-led sustainability in Guimarães

In a city where sustainability is part of everyday life, Hugo Pinto has grown up surrounded by this transformation. A secondary school student in Guimarães, he studies science and technology while actively contributing to the city’s environmental initiatives. Through Hugo’s involvement with the ‘Landscape Laboratory’ and ‘Eco-Schools’ projects, as well as daily green practices, he is part of a generation shaping Guimarães’ greener future.

Guimarães’ path to becoming a European Green Capital

For Hugo, sustainability is not a distant concept, but a core part of his education since childhood. Now, as Guimarães celebrates its recognition as European Green Capital 2026, he sees the title as both a milestone and a reminder of work that began over a decade ago.

“Since primary school, I have been hearing about ecological projects and sustainability projects,” he explains. “Every teacher tried to teach us how to be part of the city projects, so the recognition of Guimarães as the Green Capital is really important to us.

”That early exposure has continued to shape Hugo’s path. Today, he pursues his passion for sustainability through his involvement with the Landscape Laboratory, where he has presented events, taken part in meetings and contributed to local environmental initiatives.

Learning sustainability from the ground up

Hugo’s connection to environmental action began primarily through Eco-Schools – an international programme dedicated to encouraging sustainability in youth through action-oriented learning. One particularly impressive activity stayed with him from the age of eight, when he visited the city’s waste-treatment facility. The experience fascinated him as it revealed a part of city life that many people never witness.

“It was really nice to see how they treat our trash,” he recalls. “Not everyone knows where our trash goes after we throw it away.”

Those early activities helped him understand sustainability beyond the classroom. More recently, through the EcoSchools project, Hugo and his classmates visited an animal shelter. They first learned how the shelter operates and then explored how animal welfare can connect with broader sustainability issues.

Everyday signs of a greener Guimarães

Guimarães’ progress can be seen in everyday life, such as the city’s investment in cleaner public transport, especially zero-emission electric buses. As a student, Hugo sees this as both environmentally important and personally meaningful.

“This is really impactful for me and for all the students,” he says. “Having buses that don’t run on fuel is a big step for us.”

Hugo also points to small features around the city, such as public water fountains, which serve as reminders of the importance of living sustainably. However, he believes that more people, especially young residents, need to know about these green initiatives.

“I think the promotion of those activities is even more important than the activities themselves,” Hugo says.

Awareness remains a key challenge: many people in Guimarães, including some of Hugo’s classmates, do not realise how many sustainability projects are taking place in their city.

Young people are leading the change

Hugo believes young people have a central role in shaping a greener future, not only in Guimarães but across Portugal. At the same time, he is clear that youth cannot drive change alone. Older generations, institutions and community groups all need to work together to make meaningful sustainability impacts.

In his own daily life, Hugo tries to make simple choices that reduce his environmental impact. Whenever possible, he goes to school or the gym by bike or on foot instead of by car. 

“I think that trying not to use the car is really important to avoid traffic and also pollution,” Hugo says. “That is a little step that all of us could do.”

For him, choosing greener methods of transport is one of the most immediate ways individual habits can support wider change.

Looking towards a more mobile future

Looking ahead, Hugo would like to see Guimarães continue expanding its sustainable mobility network. A passionate cyclist, he owns both an electric bike and a mountain bike. A recent trip to the Netherlands opened his eyes to how normal cycling can become when cities are designed around people rather than cars. Although Guimarães already has many cycling routes and the 2026 European Green Capital title, Hugo believes there is still room to go further.

For him, the future of Guimarães depends on making sustainable choices more visible, more accessible and a part of everyone’s daily routines. The city’s progress shows what is possible when education and community engagement support each other. Now, Hugo hopes his generation can help carry that momentum forward.