On Tuesday, 4 November, Air Base No. 8 in Ovar hosted the fifth edition of the Air Force Environment Conference, under the theme ‘Water Resources – H2ON’, which was attended by 47 people, including members of the Air Force and invited entities.

The event programme included several lectures addressing key issues related to the preservation of environmental resources in a military context. Among the speakers, António Afonso, Administrator of the Northern Hydrographic Region, presented a perspective on the management and protection of the main theme of the conference, while Ana Cristina Correia, Director of Services at the Directorate-General for Armament, Heritage and National Defence, discussed strategies for building a more sustainable defence.

The morning ended with a presentation by the Head of Logistics for the Air Force Resources Division, Lieutenant Colonel Júlio Santos, dedicated to the roadmap for carbon neutrality in the Air Force, a commitment made by the institution that sets targets for reducing environmental impact by 2050.

During the afternoon, the second panel took place, reserved for military personnel and civilian workers of the Air Force, with the participation of four internal speakers with roles and responsibilities in the areas of environmental management and water resources in different departments and units of the organisation. Topics such as water reuse, the role of water resources in fighting forest fires, compliance with the sustainable bases mission, and environmental management and shared responsibilities between units were discussed.

The 5th Air Force Environment Conference highlighted the institution's commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation, providing a space for interdisciplinary dialogue, where the importance of efficient water management and the integration of sustainability into Air Force practices and planning was emphasised.