About CPADA

The Portuguese Confederation of Environmental Defense Associations was created in 1991, following the 1st National Meeting of Environmental Defense Associations (Viseu, 1989), and is the largest environmental organization in our country, comprising 110 NGOs for Environmental protection), national, regional and local, of great thematic diversity (nature conservation, territorial planning, built heritage, urban environment, alternative transport, animal welfare, organic farming, specific activities such as caving, mountaineering, scouting and cycling), spread throughout the Continent and Autonomous Regions, which together represent tens of thousands of members.

The Confederation has as its general objectives the defense of the environment, in its multiple aspects, in particular through the phenomenon of associativism. It is a national network of Environmental Protection Associations / Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations, a forum for debate on environmental issues, a space of solidarity and the social partner par excellence in environmental policy. The Confederation intends to improve the information, decision and debate processes between the CSOs and ONGs on the environment, promoting and ensuring the exchange of information and experiences between the NGOs, participating in the debates on environmental policy and defending the interests of the NGOs with public bodies.

He is a member of the European Environmental Bureau, federation of environmental organizations in Europe and represents Environmental NGOs in the Economic and Social Council. As a representative of the Environmental NGOs in the Economic and Social Council, the Confederation has a role as a social partner and a privileged interlocutor in matters of association and environmental policy.

It is the responsibility of the Portuguese Confederation of Environmental Defense Associations to manage the processes for electing representatives of Environmental NGOs in Public Organisms in accordance with the Environmental NGOs Representation Regulation in Public Organisms approved at the General Meeting of Associations.

It organizes annually a National Meeting of Environmental Defense Associations that will have its 23rd edition in 2013, promoting the debate on environmental and associative issues.

The Confederation intends to reinforce the link between the NGOs and contribute to the valorization and promotion of environmental associations.

The democratization of the defense of the environment in Portugal is an objective of the Confederation.