Latest news and stories about climate change in infrastructure in Portugal for expats and residents.
An analysis of how the El Niño climate phenomenon impacts various sectors in Portugal, including business, infrastructure, and forestry.
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.
Rising sea levels are accelerating, with Portugal identified as one of the regions facing a significantly increased risk.
Portugal is among the European countries with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita and one of the highest producers of renewable energy, but car dependency has increased.
Following the 2023 El Niño, which contributed to record temperatures in 2024, the World Meteorological Organization warns that the phenomenon could repeat or worsen this scenario globally in 2026.
Petrogal's Sines refinery and TAP were the most polluting facilities in Portugal in 2025, a year also marked by an increase in emissions from power plants. According to a report by the environmental association Zero, the top 10 most polluting facilities in the country recorded a 7% overall increase in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2024, totaling 8.9 million tonnes of CO2. While the Sines refinery remains the top polluter for the sixth consecutive year, it achieved a 16% reduction in emissions. Conversely, natural gas-fired power plants saw a significant rise in emissions due to increased electricity consumption and lower imports, with the EDP Ribatejo plant recording the largest increase at 326%. Zero highlights the continued reliance on fossil fuels and calls for greater investment in renewable energy and a just transition for industrial units.
Ocean warming is identified as the main cause of the acceleration in sea level rise. Scientists warn that these worrying trends are likely to continue over the coming decades.
A pilot project to create temperature reduction zones using natural means will reach five cities on the mainland this year. The measure involves the creation of green spaces and temperature reduction zones in hot cities, announced the Minister of Environment and Energy during the Smart Cities Summit, which runs until Thursday at FIL.
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.
Leaders advocate for a shift in strategy to address climate and infrastructure challenges in Portugal, as reported by Jornal Económico.
Scientists discover that sea levels have been underestimated and that the threat to coastal areas may arrive sooner.
Greenmetrics.ai, a startup founded by three engineering graduates from Instituto Superior Técnico, has developed a sensor-based system that provides real-time, granular data on urban water levels. By monitoring critical drainage points and using AI to predict flooding, the company helps municipalities move from reactive damage control to proactive prevention. Currently operating in 11 Portuguese cities and expanding internationally, the startup differentiates itself from global tech giants by providing hyper-local, street-level insights that satellite-based models often miss.
The president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimenta Machado, stated that China's commitment to energy sustainability serves as a model for Portugal. Following record-breaking rainfall in early 2026 that put the entire country on flood alert, Machado emphasized the need to adopt Chinese technology—particularly in renewables and electric vehicles—to mitigate climate risks. The government is prioritizing climate adaptation, including restricting construction in flood-prone areas and addressing coastal erosion, while viewing China as a strategic partner in decarbonization efforts.
Preparatory work for artificial beach nourishment on the Quarteira-Garrão stretch in Loulé, on the Algarve coast, began today as a measure to reinforce coastal protection following the effects of bad weather.
In an interview, engineer Elói Figueiredo discusses the role of engineering in modern society, the impact of climate change on infrastructure, and the need for better maintenance and political decision-making regarding flood-prone areas like the Mondego river basin.
The article “Desalentos” by Eduardo Oliveira e Silva discusses the challenges facing Portugal in the context of its development and infrastructure projects. The author expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of the PTRR (Recovery and Resilience Plan), citing failures of previous plans and a lack of capable institutions, skilled construction companies, and financial resources at the municipal level. He highlights the absence of strategic consensus among political parties, civil society, and business groups, which hampers progress. The piece emphasizes the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of the country's approach to development, particularly in light of climate change and evolving circumstances. Oliveira e Silva warns that without strong leadership and broad consensus, Portugal risks becoming irrelevant and burdensome to its partners due to ongoing incompetence.
The storms that hit the country are yet another example of extreme climate phenomena that will become part of the new normal. We will increasingly have to deal with these realities, preparing better, reacting effectively, and adopting almost permanent reconstruction habits. This requires national management complemented by local authorities, public institution leadership with civil society involvement, emergency actions combined with medium-term interventions. In Lisbon, we first offered solidarity to severely affected regions, then alerted the population, limited risks, and protected critical areas. Immediate restoration interventions were launched, and we will recalibrate multi-year investments to adjust plans to new realities. The ongoing structural investments, such as the General Drainage Plan, have already shown containment effects during this crisis. However, this context should prompt the Portuguese to reflect on fundamental issues, including the effectiveness of our economic model and the quality of our institutions. We need robust infrastructures, installed capacities, and efficient response mechanisms, as well as ambitious, sustainable, and financeable investment plans. We must integrate the best contributions from academia, the private sector, and civil society to effectively address the structural challenges posed by new realities, ensuring that strategic planning is not merely an accessory but a necessity for good governance.
Sequences of storms such as those that are affecting mainland Portugal are rare but not unprecedented, according to climate expert Pedro Matos Soares, who nevertheless warns that climate change will The post Storm train “rare”, but Portugal must prepare for more extreme weather – expert appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Duarte Costa warns that, although there is no highest-level weather warning, saturated soils and river basins could cause severe damage in the coming days. The climate-change expert calls for impact-based communication and immediate preventive measures, after the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, IPMA) warned of a “devastating” scenario if the rain persists.
The debate over whether these events are caused by natural cycles or by climate change has become pointless. It is clear that both are acting at the same time.
José Pimenta Machado, president of the Portuguese Environment Agency, says the Portuguese must prepare and adapt to this new reality we are living through because of the severe weather: “It's anomaly upon anomaly.”
Storm Kristin exposed the fragility of human existence in an ill-prepared region. It showed how dependent we are on fragile infrastructure.
Climate change is making extreme weather events, such as torrential rain and heatwaves, more frequent. Experts warn the trend will continue as long as the world keeps burning fossil fuels.
Joaquim Leitão, a Civil Protection specialist, assesses the national and municipal response to storm situations such as the one that occurred early this morning with the passage of the low-pressure system Kristin.
Joaquim Poças Martins, former Secretary of State for the Environment, says floods and inundations demand absolute priority for the protection of people, stressing that there are life‑threatening situations that still require further planning and prevention. He also highlights the role of Civil Protection, firefighters and local authorities in mitigating impacts, in a context of extreme events made worse by climate change.
Electricity consumption resulted in an additional one million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2025.
