On April 16, 2026, Sofia Santos, CEO of Systemic Sphere, took part in the 16th National Waste Management Conference | In Action: Scenarios , organized by APEMETA in partnership with ESGRA. The event aimed to promote a broad technical debate on the sector’s key challenges and the most innovative solutions, bringing together experts and professionals to address the most current and relevant topics in waste management in Portugal. The conference gathered experts, policymakers, c

For years, words like “green,” “environmentally friendly,” or “carbon neutral” circulated freely in reports, advertisements, and websites, often without much scrutiny. However, this technical and scientific looseness will have to end if companies want to avoid accusations of greenwashing. The Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT), already in force since 2024 and with full application starting in September 2026, represents a structural shift in how

By Sofia Santos I spent twelve days on holiday in South America, divided between Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Uruguay — Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo. I returned rested, but above all challenged. Not only by what I saw, but by what I realised about what we carry with us when we travel: expectations, prejudices, and mental maps that are often outdated. I was genuinely surprised by the level of development in these cities. The quality of urban infrastructure, the efficie

Whenever the world is shaken — whether by war, an economic crisis, or political instability — a recurring argument resurfaces: that sustainability targets and ESG requirements should be “put on hold.” Excessive costs, regulatory complexity, and loss of competitiveness are cited, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The pattern is always the same. The problem with this line of reasoning is simple: it is based on the mistaken assumption that sustainability is a

Systemic Sphere, VdA and GDA Advogados promoted a debate dedicated to climate finance and the management of climate risks on 12 March, in Maputo. The event brought together representatives from the public, financial and insurance sectors, among others, to reflect on the challenges and opportunities associated with mobilising climate resources in Mozambique. VdA, GDA Advogados and Systemic Sphere also announced their partnership to provide integrated legal, technical and econo

This question is not merely rhetorical. At the end of 2025, Portugal approved the first project methodology under the national voluntary carbon market framework—focused on reforestation. A new market is thus emerging, where forests are no longer seen solely as landscape or a timber resource, but also as a climate asset with measurable value. This is not, however, an invitation to indiscriminate planting. On the contrary, it is not only about planting more, but also about plan