Introduction

21 Junho 2025, 09:00 • João Morais Lavadinho Mourato

Module Introduction. Objectives and Assessment. Course syllabus and assessment materials were distributed. 

The spirit of the module, its systemic view rationale was then illustrated with a presentation and group debate on the topic of Lisbon's 50year-long waiting period for the new airport's decision-making to conclude. Spatial planning and Climate change issues, and how these intersect, are introduced and debated collectively, through the chosen empirical case-study.

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Natural Disasters

7 Junho 2025, 11:00 • João Morais Lavadinho Mourato

Natural disasters. Discuss and understand the concept. Identify and understand extreme phenomena that can cause risks and cause disasters originating from natural phenomena and/or human-made actions. Diagnostic methodologies. Preparation of risk and/or susceptibility cartography. Integration into the planning and management of the territory of concrete measures to prevent and minimize the catastrophic effects of extreme phenomena.

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Desertification

30 Maio 2025, 14:00 • João Morais Lavadinho Mourato

Desertification. Definition of the concept. The state of desertification globally, in Europe and Portugal. Causes and consequences. Diagnostic methodology. Indicator systems, Desertification versus climate change. Adaptation and mitigation solutions, with the presentation of projects such as DesertAdapt.

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Biodiversity

23 Maio 2025, 16:00 • João Morais Lavadinho Mourato

Biodiversity - Concept. Distribution and typology of ecosystems at a global level. Typology. Conventions and other legislative instruments and their application at different scales. Factors that lead to biodiversity loss. The protection of biodiversity in Portugal and legal instruments. Biodiversity, Desertification and Climate Change, implications for the territory and society.

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Urbanization

16 Maio 2025, 18:00 • João Morais Lavadinho Mourato

In this session we address Urbanization as one of the five key global territorial challenges that provide the contextual framework for ACOT. We stress a systemic perspective on how urbanization and sustainability intertwine at multiple level through the example of a growingly scarce resource worldwide - sand. 

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