The EO4SURE project held a Living Lab session yesterday morning (September 4) at Indra Deimos headquarters in Lisbon, bringing together project partners and national stakeholders to discuss marine pollution monitoring solutions.

The project is developing Earth Observation tools to support UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.1: reducing marine pollution. It will deliver new methods to monitor coastal eutrophication, including surface chlorophyll-a, and to assess risks such as microalgae blooms.
While Portugal has met the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive since 2012, SDG Indicator 14.1.1 is not yet reported at the national level. This project aims to help close that gap.

The session welcomed representatives from the Directorate-General for Maritime Policy (DGPM), including the Director-General and technical team. The AIR Centre was represented by Executive Director Miguel Miranda, Deputy Executive Director Mafalda Carapuço, and Project Manager Catarina Paes Duarte, alongside partners from INDRA Deimos and INE – National Institute of Statistics of Cabo Verde.

Advancing operational capabilities for SDG 14.1.1 reporting is a crucial step in strengthening Portugal’s environmental monitoring infrastructure. By harnessing Earth Observation technologies, the country can improve its capacity to track and respond to marine pollution challenges while contributing to global sustainability goals.

Currently in its initial phase, EO4SURE’s focus on developing operational algorithms for eutrophication monitoring will provide valuable tools for environmental management and policy-making, reinforcing Portugal’s commitment to marine conservation and sustainable development.