President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Green Wall Association visits the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao, China

Dr. Paulo Palha, a President of the European Federation of Green Roof & Green Wall Associations (EFB) and current President of the National Association of Green Roofs (ANCV) in Portugal, visited the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) on October 23, where he shared insights on how green infrastructure, mainly green roofs, can play a vital role in mitigating impacts of flooding and other water-related issues in coastal cities like Macao. During his visit to the Institute of Science and Environment (ISE) and Ilha Verde Main Campus, Dr. Palha shared his insights on sustainable urban solutions and the importance of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in addressing environmental challenges.

In attendance during his visit to ISE were the Dean of ISE, Prof. David Gonçalves, along with Prof. André Antunes, Prof. Karen Araño Tagulao, Prof. Thomas Lei, and Prof. Alexandre Lebel.

Prof. Karen, Chair of the USJ Green Committee, also brought Dr. Palha to the Ilha Verde Campus with Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design. Both professors actively discussed the potential for green infrastructure to enhance sustainability on USJ’s campuses and throughout Macao.

During his discussions at USJ, Dr. Palha noted that “The USJ campus is a perfect example of an urban zone that would greatly benefit from green roof technology. By creating more green spaces on rooftops, we can significantly reduce stormwater runoff, alleviating the flood risks that residents and institutions like USJ face. This technology has been successfully implemented in cities across Europe. In addition to mitigating flood risks, green roofs can also help reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and provide insulation for buildings, making them more energy efficient.”

Prof. Karen shared plants of integrating green infrastructure into the university’s sustainability goals. She highlighted USJ’s ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness and its commitment to sustainable development through research and community engagement. “USJ is already a member of ANCV, and we look forward to future collaborations with EFB to bring NBS to life here at USJ”, Prof. Karen said.

Prof. Nuno Soares also attended the discussions and emphasized the importance of thoughtful design in implementing green infrastructure. He discussed how architectural planning could integrate green roofs and walls into new and existing structures, maximizing their environmental and social benefits.

Looking Forward: Nature-Based Solutions and Collaboration

Dr. Paulo Palha’s visit also set the stage for future collaboration between the European Federation of Green Roof & Green Wall Associations (EFB) and the University of Saint Joseph. Both parties expressed a strong interest in organizing a high-level meeting focused on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address Macao’s urban flooding and environmental sustainability challenges. This proposed meeting would bring together experts, and various stakeholders to explore how green roofs, walls, and other NBS can be implemented across the city.

With Macao facing increasing threats from urban flooding, implementing green roofs and other Nature-Based Solutions offers a promising way forward. Through research, innovation, and collaboration, USJ and EFB aim to transform urban landscapes and create more sustainable, flood-resilient cities.