Latest news and stories about climate change in europe 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.
The Copernicus Service reports that June was the hottest on record for Western Europe and the second hottest globally, with temperatures significantly exceeding historical averages and contributing to excess mortality.
Environment Minister Graça Carvalho warns that Europe must adapt to extreme weather events as a heatwave approaches, while the Greens party urges an emergency summit of EU leaders.
New research indicates that human-induced global warming has significantly increased the intensity and probability of the current European heat wave compared to historical climate patterns.
Europe must prepare for a 3 ºC warming scenario by 2100 with increasingly extreme weather events, warned European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra. In an interview with Euronews released this Tuesday, October 27, the official cautioned that the planet could exceed the 1.5 ºC limit established in the Paris Agreement. Hoekstra noted that even with optimal action, more summers like the previous one are unavoidable, arguing that climate change adaptation must accompany emission reduction efforts. The Commissioner stated that this summer's extreme weather caused over 100 billion euros in damages. The European Commission is preparing new rules requiring Member States to clearly identify authorities responsible for climate disaster prevention. Brussels also aims to integrate climate risks into infrastructure planning. While there is no new direct financial support for families, the Commission points to 30 billion euros in potential European Investment Bank funding by 2030, while highlighting that only about 25% of European assets exposed to climate risks are currently covered by insurance.
The European Commission presented an EU Climate Resilience plan this Tuesday, with the objective of strengthening Europe's capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and manage climate risks.
European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera stated that “the climate crisis is not a hoax”.
According to Copernicus, global temperatures last month reached 1.63°C above pre-industrial levels, forming part of a sequence of months above 1.5°C that began in August and is expected to continue until 2027.
At the pre-COP in Fiji, Pacific nations pushed to keep the 1.5-degree goal alive and to bolster their climate fund, which remains far from the 500 million dollar target.
La nouvelle proposition de la Commission européenne cherchera à préciser qui, des autorités nationales ou locales, est chargé de gérer les feux de forêt et les inondations.
A study suggests that preventing the formation of contrails—the white lines left by planes—in a small percentage of flights could delay aviation-related global warming by about a decade. Research by Klima Consulting indicates that reducing contrail-induced warming by half starting in 2030 would shift the projected temperature increase of 0.08 degrees from 2040 to 2050. Since a small fraction of flights accounts for the majority of these contrails, experts suggest that slightly modifying flight paths or schedules to avoid specific atmospheric conditions is a cost-effective way to mitigate climate impact. The European Union has begun monitoring non-CO2 aviation emissions, and upcoming trials in the North Atlantic aim to test large-scale reduction strategies, though experts warn this does not replace the need to reduce overall CO2 emissions.
An analysis of how Portugal's climate policies and initiatives serve as a model for the rest of Europe.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, but insurance covers only a quarter of climate-related losses. The European Commission proposes a climate insurance alliance.
In her State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued that only the EU can provide true sovereignty to its citizens amidst global threats like war and extremism. She also announced plans to establish a European firefighting fleet to combat the increasing risks posed by climate change, noting that Europe is warming at twice the global rate.
European Parliament president expects global warming to feature heavily in Wednesday’s State of the Union address.
The request from the various organisations came after a summer that hit record heat levels, with Western Europe reaching its hottest June and July period on record.
The event brought together 40 young Portuguese people and figures from national and European politics
Western Europe also suffered its hottest summer. Global temperatures rose to more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Record-breaking global temperatures were caused by burning fossil fuels, the EU's earth observation unit said.
The heatwaves in Europe this summer have increased awareness of the repercussions they are having on various levels of the economy and society. But policies can be slow to change.
Despite a significant reduction in the total area affected by wildfires, Portugal still leads the European Union in terms of the proportion of land burnt.
It is impossible to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. For the first time, the United Nations admits that the planet is no longer on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Drafting is advancing on a speech that will set the course for the next phase of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission.
The UN highlights that climate change constitutes “a brutal reminder of the cascading consequences of the climate crisis, both human and economic.”
A study highlights the increasing severity and frequency of wildfires across the European continent.
A study reveals that improvements in fire management could reduce the burned area by 72% to 92%, but highlights the need to mitigate climate change.
Global warming is the main driver of this year's marine heat waves, with knock-on effects for ecosystems and extreme weather.
The European Commission has pledged to present a proposal later this year to strengthen the EU's climate resilience, following a summer of heatwaves and droughts that triggered numerous wildfires and forced the shutdown of nuclear power plants. Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova noted that Europe is warming twice as fast as other continents and confirmed that an integrated strategy will be introduced to embed climate resilience across all policy sectors, including agriculture and the environment. The move follows record-breaking temperatures and severe drought conditions across several member states, which have impacted infrastructure and led to significant archaeological discoveries as water levels in rivers like the Danube reached historic lows.
Half of the world's population lives under the threat of land degradation. While Europe faces unprecedented droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires, nearly 200 countries are meeting in Mongolia to discuss a less visible environmental crisis that has a direct impact on water, food, and the economy. The challenge is to turn promises into action.
Due to the drought in Europe, once-mighty rivers have been reduced to a trickle, and the crisis is affecting everything from shipping and tourism to water availability and energy production.
