Lousã was distinguished as one of the most sustainable municipalities in the country, with an index greater than 80%, being in the “top 8” of the Municipalities with the best municipal sustainability indexes. The ECOXXI Green Flag award was handed over on October 27, in a ceremony that took place at the Ermesinde Cultural Forum.

ECOXXI is a program implemented in 2005 by the Blue Flag Association of Europe (ABAE), and recognizes the best sustainability practices at the municipal level, through the evaluation, by a group of experts, of 21 indicators and 70 sub-indicators in the environmental, social and economical. The evaluation of these indicators makes it possible to assess the vast majority of the goals established in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the planning and management of resources, as well as the protection and safeguarding of the cultural and natural heritage, with particular emphasis on compliance with the SDG of Sustainable Cities and Communities and Sustainable Production and Consumption.

After being scrutinized by that group of experts that make up the National Commission (involving 34 entities, including the Portuguese Environment Agency, the Energy Agency, Commissions for Coordination and Regional Development, regulatory bodies and universities), Lousã was positioned in a restricted group of 10 municipalities that obtained more than 80%, consisting of Pombal, Santo Tirso, Torres Vedras, Águeda, Braga, Oeiras, Sintra, Leiria and Valongo. For this year's edition, 59 applications were submitted. Lousã distinguished as one of the most sustainable municipalities in the country