Latest news and stories about climate change in Portugal for expats and residents.
From the extreme spring rain to the devastating summer wildfires, Portugal emerges as one of the examples of climate instability on the continent that is warming faster than the rest of the world.
A new report from the Lancet Countdown Europe warns of significant public health risks in Portugal due to climate change, including a sharp increase in mortality linked to extreme heat. Data indicates that heat-related alerts in Europe have risen by 318% over the last decade, with the report calling for urgent adaptive policies to protect the population. Experts like Luís Campos have emphasized the need for immediate government action to address these environmental threats.
The government will launch a technical, economic and regulatory study to adapt the National Electric System (Sistema Eléctrico Nacional) to climate change, including assessing burying overhead lines in critical areas, officials announced. The move follows storm damage and prolonged outages in some regions and aims to identify resilience measures and regulatory changes needed for investment and operations. The study could lead to long-term works and changes to maintenance priorities; residents in storm-hit areas should watch for local works and timelines. Those following energy policy should note how regulators and operators may change planning and permitting rules.
Update: Around 7,600 customers still without power
E-Redes reported that as of 08:00 about 7,600 customers in areas hit by Storm Kristin remain without electricity. The company says it is focused on restoring supply and continues to issue warnings for affected zones.
Storm Kristin was a named Atlantic storm that struck Portugal in late 2024, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds (gusts exceeding 100 km/h in some areas), and significant coastal wave action. The storm caused widespread flooding, roof collapses, fallen trees, and power outages across several districts.
IPMA issued orange and red warnings for affected regions, and ANEPC activated emergency response plans. The impact was particularly severe in flood-prone areas of the Lisbon metropolitan area and the Tagus and Mondego river basins, where drainage systems were overwhelmed.
Storm Kristin highlighted recurring vulnerabilities in Portugal's infrastructure during extreme weather events — including urban drainage capacity, riverbank management, and the need for updated emergency response coordination. Residents in storm-affected areas were advised to follow civil protection guidance, avoid coastal zones and riverbanks, and report damage through municipal services.
The National Electric System (Sistema Elétrico Nacional) is Portugal's electricity network and market covering power generation, high-voltage transmission and distribution to consumers; the transmission grid is operated by REN. The government has launched a technical, economic and regulatory study to adapt the system to climate change, including assessing burying power lines in critical areas.
An analytical look at Earth Day, emphasizing the necessity of bridging scientific innovation with social justice and climate action while highlighting the world's persistent dependence on fossil fuels.
Portugal and Spain are forging an alliance to address climate change and enhance economic cooperation. At a recent summit, they focused on eliminating barriers for cross-border businesses while prioritizing sustainability initiatives.
The article discusses the urgent need for regionalisation in Portugal, highlighting how recent severe weather events have exposed the country's vulnerabilities due to an excessively centralised governance model. It argues that the lack of administrative regions creates a governance void that hampers effective civil protection, resource management, and policy integration. The author advocates for an elected regional level to enhance accountability and transparency, emphasizing that decentralisation must be paired with robust information systems to ensure effective governance. The piece concludes that regionalisation is essential for adapting to climate change and improving democratic engagement.
The article discusses the frequent attribution of floods to climate change, suggesting that this perspective arises from a collective forgetfulness about historical flood events. It highlights the existence of 'Flood Marks' that serve as reminders of past floods, yet these markers have not been reached this year, indicating a disconnect between current perceptions and historical realities.
A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) indicates that by 2100, between one third and 50% of land currently suitable for grazing will lose its capacity due to rising temperatures, highlighting significant implications for agriculture and environmental sustainability.
A 2025 climate assessment found the year was the third warmest on record, driven chiefly by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and by exceptionally high sea‑surface temperatures across the oceans, highlighting ongoing anthropogenic warming and implications for climate resilience and sustainability.
Uncertainty about the future, meeting subsistence needs, environmental and political sentiments, and environmentalist views focused on overpopulation and excessive consumption are cited as the main causes.
Portugal is at the centre of the climate crisis as Europe experiences unprecedented warming.
The year 2025 in Portugal is defined by extreme heat and forest fires, reflecting broader climate change trends across Europe.
Katarina Gardfeldt, Director-General of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, discusses the geopolitical importance of the Arctic, the need for new icebreaker infrastructure, and the interconnected nature of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, ecosystem shifts, and pollution.
The year 2025 is characterised by significant heatwaves and higher-than-average precipitation levels across Portugal.
A report on the current climate-related risks affecting the Iberian Peninsula.
2025 was the fifth hottest year in mainland Portugal since 1931. The report highlights record temperatures, the largest area ever burned, and humidity levels above the European average.
The European continent is warming the fastest, with record heatwaves in 2025, a year in which forest fires consumed 1,034,550 hectares, the largest area ever recorded.
The report also points to the largest area ever burned as a result of forest fires.
Amidst storm carousels, roller coasters of icy winds have risen, plunging into heat and wildfires, while Atlantic Ocean circulation slows down and erratic Sahara dust flies aimlessly.
Report on European climate data indicating that 2025 ranks as the third warmest year ever recorded.
The year 2025 is characterised by significant heatwaves and higher-than-average precipitation levels across Portugal.
Nearly all of Europe was warmer than average in 2025, scientists found.
A European report on the state of the climate released early this morning assesses the impact of climate change on populations and biodiversity in the continent that is warming the fastest. Experts warn that the threat is no longer future, but current.
As the war with Iran highlights the risks of fossil fuels, a coalition of countries willing to collaborate seeks their gradual elimination on a global level.
Pilot projects for the Action Programme for Resilience and Nature Restoration in Urban Areas will begin this year in the municipalities of Vila Real, Leiria, São João da Madeira, Beja, and Évora.
Home News El Niño climate event is bound to happen and increase weather warnings El Niño climate event is bound to happen and increase weather warnings An El Niño climate event is forecast to develop between May and July, altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, according to the Wo
There is a comfortable and dangerously seductive idea in the climate debate in Portugal: that the central problem is a lack of money. It is not. The problem is more uncomfortable. Much closer to the daily life of public and private decisions. There is talk of millions of euros for adaptation, European funds, the RRP, and, more recently, ...
The cumulative impact of heatwaves, wildfires, and floods threatens global ecosystems. If emissions are reduced to carbon neutrality by the middle of the century, these impacts could be avoided.
Given that “surface temperatures are rising rapidly”, the UN agency stated this Friday that a return of this climate event with a global impact is likely “between May and July 2026”.
The climate event will bring changes to precipitation patterns. The phenomenon could intensify extreme weather events in several regions.
