Environment news in Portugal

The government is drafting a decree-law to regulate the construction and operation of data centres across Portugal by the end of the year. Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that the rules will establish criteria for national interest, electrical grid connection fees, and water consumption, while requiring facilities to use renewable energy. Industrial consumers will continue to receive priority over data centres when connecting to the electrical grid.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) raised its weather warning to orange for the north and south coasts and mountainous regions of Madeira, as well as Porto Santo. Regional civil protection services urged residents to take preventive measures against heavy showers and thunderstorms forecast through Sunday morning. Forecasters also predict colder overnight temperatures and possible frost across mainland Portugal later in the week.

Energy company Galp announced that planned additional investments in Sines depend on the government establishing clear regulations to predict future fuel demand. The company is currently building green hydrogen facilities and a sustainable aviation fuel plant in the industrial hub to meet national incorporation targets set for 2030. Company officials stated that further financial commitments to renewable road and aviation fuels will only proceed once long-term market rules are established.

Two earthquakes measuring 4.5 and 3.8 magnitude struck São Miguel island in the Azores within five minutes on Thursday morning. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) reported 75 tremors since 20 October originating near the Hirondelle Basin, four of which were felt by residents. IPMA noted that the area periodically experiences seismic swarms and continues to monitor regional fault activity.

Low-income households will be eligible for state subsidies covering up to 80 percent of an electric car's purchase price under the 2027 state budget. Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho announced the scheme, which forms part of a €50 million incentive package expected to support approximately 20,000 vehicles. The initiative introduces income-based tiers alongside standard purchase vouchers for cleaner transport.

The Portuguese government will offer subsidies of up to 80 percent for low-income households purchasing electric vehicles, Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho announced during parliamentary budget debates. The programme will support the purchase of around 20,000 electric vehicles under the 2027 State Budget (Orçamento do Estado). The government also plans to maintain existing electric vehicle purchase incentives for the general public and fund 9,000 vehicles for micro-enterprises.

The Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente or APA) has rejected a planned photovoltaic hybridization project at the Penedo Ruivo Wind Farm in Serra do Marão. The project proposed installing solar panels over seven hectares across the municipalities of Baião and Amarante, located within the Alvão-Marão Special Area of Conservation. The APA determined that the project would cause substantial and non-mitigatable damage to regional ecological, landscape, and territorial assets.

Extreme heat caused more than 50,000 excess deaths across urban areas in 30 European countries during the summer of 2026, according to two studies published in the journal Nature Health. The research attributed two-thirds of the fatalities directly to climate change, concluding this summer was the continent's deadliest on record. In Portugal, researchers registered 474 heat-related deaths across 14 monitored cities between June and August.

Mainland Portugal registered nine heatwaves between February and October 2026, marking the highest count on record according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA). The country also logged 98 days under heatwave conditions during this span, exceeding the previous record of 97 days set in 2009. Meteorologists singled out the late June to early July heatwave as one of the most intense and widespread events recorded since 1981.

Portugal was named Europe's Leading Destination at the 2026 European World Travel Awards gala, picking up 32 trophies across national and regional categories. The Azores received the award for Europe's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, while regional honors also went to Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, and the Algarve. National carrier TAP Air Portugal secured two distinctions during the annual tourism awards ceremony.

SDR Portugal, the consortium managing the Volta packaging deposit and refund system, submitted a plan to the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Ministério do Ambiente e Energia) to reduce strain on collection machines at supermarkets. The proposal seeks closer coordination among waste management entities, municipal cleaning services, and retailers to prevent bottlenecks. The initiative aims to manage high volumes of returned bottles and cans more efficiently across retail locations.

The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) warned of poor air quality across mainland Portugal on Friday and Saturday due to an incoming warm air mass carrying dust from North Africa. Health authorities advised vulnerable populations, including children and people with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor physical exertion. Inhaled particulate matter is expected to affect visibility and increase pollution levels nationwide throughout the weekend.

Carris Metropolitana is expanding its bus fleet in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Área Metropolitana de Lisboa) with 37 new electric buses starting Friday. The vehicles represent an investment of €16 million, according to Lisbon Metropolitan Transport (Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa). The presentation took place at the Rodoviária de Lisboa facilities in Santa Iria de Azóia, in the municipality of Loures.

Portuguese energy group Galp announced that its refining margin reached $33.8 per barrel in the third quarter, more than tripling from $9.5 in the same quarter last year. The quarterly margin is the highest recorded in the company's history, up from $16.8 per barrel in the previous quarter. The surge was driven primarily by shifts in international markets and fuel supply tensions related to Middle East conflicts.

Portugal is set to experience unseasonably warm weather this week, with temperatures forecast to exceed 30°C in several regions. The forecast follows national data confirming that September was the hottest recorded in Portugal since 1931, matching broader global warming trends reported by European climate monitors.

Portugal formally submitted its draft Social Climate Plan (Plano Social para o Clima) to the European Commission, outlining €1.6 billion in spending through 2032. The plan aims to assist vulnerable households and businesses facing rising fossil fuel expenses during the green transition. Investments will focus on energy efficiency renovations and clean transport alternatives across the country.

Mainland Portugal recorded its warmest September since 1931, driven by two successive late-summer heatwaves, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA). Average maximum temperatures reached 31.03 degrees Celsius, exceeding seasonal norms by 4.21 degrees. The weather agency also reported below-normal rainfall across most of the mainland throughout the month.

Fully electric passenger vehicles overtook hybrid sales for the first time in Portugal, capturing nearly half of all light passenger car registrations in September. Diesel sales dropped below 3% of the new car market as consumers continued shifting toward zero-emission options. Portugal now counts roughly 300,000 electric passenger vehicles on its roads.

Millions of euros in emergency subsidies intended for families affected by wildfires and floods between 2022 and 2025 have not reached beneficiaries. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho e da Segurança Social) cited bureaucratic failures and regulatory issues as the primary causes for the delay in distributing funds for housing and food.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) placed the districts of Beja and Setúbal under orange alert today due to heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail. While the instability is expected to persist through the October 5th holiday, forecasts indicate a gradual improvement in weather conditions across the country by Friday.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has placed seven mainland districts under yellow warning for thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail this Monday. The affected areas include Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora, Beja, and Faro, with wind gusts potentially reaching 90 km/h. These conditions are linked to indirect effects from an explosive cyclogenesis event occurring in the North Atlantic.

Update: Public Prosecutor indicts four in twins case

The Public Prosecutor's Office has filed formal charges against four individuals in the case involving the treatment of Luso-Brazilian twins with the drug Zolgensma. Among those indicted is Nuno Rebelo de Sousa, son of the former President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and former Secretary of State for Health António Lacerda Sales, both of whom have rejected the accusations.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has clarified that Portugal will not be hit by a bomb cyclone next week. While explosive cyclogenesis is occurring in the North Atlantic, it remains far from the country, though residents should expect rain, thunderstorms, and cooler temperatures starting Monday.

Emergency services are responding to multiple wildfires across Portugal, including a major blaze in Sabóia that forced the evacuation of twenty residents. Meanwhile, a firefighter sustained serious injuries while battling a fire in the municipality of Resende, and authorities have placed over 70 municipalities under maximum fire risk due to temperatures reaching 36°C.

The government announced a €60 million investment to expand domestic storage capacity, allowing Portugal to bring back strategic fuel reserves currently held in France. Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho stated the move was necessary following the 2021 closure of the Matosinhos refinery, which limited national storage space.

Over 400 personnel and 12 aerial assets are currently battling a forest fire in the village of Trémoa, located in the Almalaguês parish of Coimbra. The fire, which began mid-afternoon, is situated near the border between the municipalities of Coimbra and Miranda do Corvo.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro criticized the rising cost of fuel as an absurd and senseless reality during a climate initiative at the United Nations. While the government advocates for greater strategic autonomy in energy, the Minister of Environment assured that Portugal maintains adequate fuel reserves despite the global price volatility.

A wildfire burning in the municipality of Santo Tirso led to the evacuation of the Vale do Pisão housing estate and the closure of National Road 105 on Tuesday. Over 150 personnel, supported by dozens of vehicles and aerial assets, are working to contain the blaze, which has been burning on two active fronts. Meanwhile, emergency services are also responding to a separate fire in the municipality of Gondomar.

Nearly 300 firefighters are currently battling a large wildfire in Arcos de Valdevez, located in the Viana do Castelo district. The fire, which began Monday afternoon, has two active fronts burning through brushland. Operations are ongoing, with commanders hoping that cooler overnight conditions will allow them to bring the blaze under control.

The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil or ANEPC) has issued a high-risk warning for rural fires across Portugal, maintaining a level III state of readiness. In the Trofa municipality, 40 students and three staff members were evacuated from a local school as a precaution due to nearby flames. Officials have reinforced aerial surveillance and prepositioned resources to manage the heightened threat during the current heatwave.

Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho warned that fuel consumption has risen significantly, with diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel usage up by 4% to 6% compared to last year. The minister urged citizens to save energy and stated that government support should be prioritized for those in need. Meanwhile, rising fuel costs are driving increased interest in residential solar energy systems.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has extended a yellow weather warning for high temperatures to 16 districts across mainland Portugal. The alert remains in effect until Wednesday, with temperatures in the interior expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius.

Firefighters have brought the wildfires in Arganil and Vila Nova de Poiares under control, though new blazes in Tábua and Cantanhede continue to mobilize hundreds of personnel and aerial assets. While the situation in the Coimbra district is stabilizing, authorities warn that the danger has not yet passed.

Aerial resources have already been withdrawn due to a lack of visibility during the night

Two wildfires that broke out in Arganil and Vila Nova de Poiares merged this Saturday, forming a single front that mobilized over 700 personnel. While the fire threatened the village of Sabouga, emergency services have since contained the immediate danger to homes. Several firefighters were injured during the operation, including the Arganil fire commander, who was struck by a vehicle.

Update: Firefighters injured as Arganil blaze remains violent

The fire in Arganil remains intense, with over 800 personnel currently deployed to combat the flames as they spread toward the municipality of Góis. At least six firefighters have sustained injuries during the ongoing operation, including one individual who was struck by a vehicle, while a separate accident involving a fire engine in Coruche resulted in four additional injuries.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued Yellow Heat Warnings for nine mainland districts, including Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra, effective from September 19 to 21, 2026. Temperatures are expected to reach 38°C due to an anticyclone, prompting officials to warn of increased rural fire risks and public health concerns.

Update: Yellow heat warnings extended until Monday evening

The IPMA has extended the duration of the yellow heat warnings for the nine affected districts until 19:00 on Monday, September 21.

A new study from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (Fundação Friedrich Ebert Stiftung or FES Portugal) reveals that 19% of people in Portugal struggle to pay for essential household energy. The report, which compares Portugal to five other European nations, identifies higher vulnerability among women, those with mental health challenges, and residents living outside major urban centers.

A significant forest fire near Aveiro has forced the closure of the A1 motorway in both directions as emergency crews battle the blaze. More than 300 personnel, supported by ground vehicles and 11 aircraft, are currently working to contain the fire.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued a warning for a gradual rise in temperatures starting this Saturday. A warm, dry air mass is expected to push maximum temperatures to 38°C in the Alentejo and Tagus Valley regions. The institute suggests that this weather pattern could lead to another heatwave across the country.

Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho has refused to cancel the Volta packaging deposit system, despite Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas calling for its immediate termination. The minister stated the program is mandatory under European Union regulations and described it as successful, though she acknowledged the need to address social issues associated with waste collection. The government is currently studying ways to mitigate the visible impact of people searching through trash for containers.

More than 1,200 personnel are currently mobilized to combat four major wildfires across the country, with the most significant efforts concentrated in Alvito da Beira, Portel, and Mirandela. Authorities from the Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) are managing the response to these active fires, which have required substantial resource allocation throughout the week.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has formally requested that the government immediately cancel the Volta packaging deposit system. The program, which refunds 10 cents for returned single-use containers, has been criticized by the mayor as an environmental policy that has devolved into an unprecedented social drama for the city's residents.

Firefighting efforts are ongoing across the country, with hundreds of personnel mobilized to tackle a major fire in Alvito da Beira, Proença-a-Nova. A separate fire in Cedães, Mirandela, is also consuming brush, though authorities confirmed it does not currently threaten residential areas.

The Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) of Castelo Branco has confirmed the presence of the Aedes albopictus mosquito, a known vector for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. While no infected mosquitoes have been detected in Portugal, health authorities have implemented an enhanced monitoring plan and requested public cooperation to manage the risk.

The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) has issued a warning regarding poor air quality caused by suspended dust from North Africa. The health authority recommends that the general population avoid outdoor activities and that vulnerable individuals remain indoors until the air mass clears.

The developer Lightsource BP has reformulated the Sophia solar power plant project in the Castelo Branco district, reducing its planned area and capacity by over 30%. The company also confirmed it is abandoning the separate Beira photovoltaic project due to financial viability concerns following required environmental adjustments. These changes follow extensive public consultation and feedback from local authorities.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued yellow weather warnings for 13 districts across mainland Portugal due to extreme heat. Temperatures are expected to peak at 38 ºC in interior regions before a shift in atmospheric circulation brings cooler weather on Tuesday. The Madeira archipelago is also under a heat warning, with regional authorities maintaining a strict ban on open fires and agricultural burning.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued yellow warnings for high temperatures across several districts in mainland Portugal and Madeira. The alerts, which remain in effect until Monday, highlight a persistent period of heat that has also increased the risk of wildfires in many municipalities.

A report from the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos or ERSE) reveals that Portugal resumed natural gas imports from Russia in 2025. While 95% of the country's gas supply entered through the Sines terminal, the government has set a goal to phase out Russian liquefied natural gas imports entirely by 2027.

The Intermunicipal Community of Beira Baixa has approved 57.34 million euros to support recovery efforts following Storm Kristin. The region registered over 2,200 applications for aid, totaling 74.33 million euros in identified damages. Local authorities are prioritizing the validation of remaining applications to ensure support reaches affected businesses and residents quickly.