Latest news and stories about sustainability in environment in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Portugal has launched the 'Volta' deposit return scheme, adding a 10-cent surcharge to plastic bottles and cans to boost recycling rates to 90% by 2029, though early public feedback highlights concerns over system efficiency and accessibility.
The Zero Association criticizes Lisbon's Noise Action Plan as ineffective and proposes a 5.7 euro noise tax per passenger to fund building insulation and mitigate aircraft noise impacts on over 370,000 residents.
The Government has received the first environmental report for the proposed new Lisbon airport, submitted by ANA – Airports of Portugal. The Ministry of Infrastructure said the next step is delivery of a technical report by 16 July, which will detail the project’s principal environmental impacts and justify the choice of location within the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete perimeter. The final environmental impact study is expected to be submitted to the Portuguese Environment Agency in the third quarter, marking a new phase in the planning and regulatory review of the airport project.
The journey to school can be a daily adventure, filled with conversation, discoveries, and planet-friendly actions. In various parts of the country, more and more children (hundreds, in fact!) are going to class by walking or cycling.
The president of the Iberian Electricity Market (Mibel) operator argues that Europe must increase investment in renewable energy to ensure its energy autonomy. Pedro Amaral Jorge highlights that global instability, such as the war in Iran, exposes the risks of relying on fossil fuel price fluctuations and scarcity. He stresses that Europe must move away from OPEC dependency and geopolitical price control. With electricity currently accounting for 25% of European energy consumption and a target of 50% by 2050, Amaral Jorge emphasizes that sovereignty will depend on integrating renewables into electricity production. The article also covers a meeting in Lisbon between the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Brazilian Offshore Wind Coalition to discuss offshore wind investments, noting Portugal's pioneering role with the WindFloat Atlantic project and the challenges faced by the sector in the US under the Trump administration.
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 official presentation of the updated national energy strategy is scheduled to take place in Lisbon next week.
Greenvolt Comunidades and Hovione have signed an agreement to develop two energy communities at Hovione's facilities in the Lisbon region (Lumiar and Loures), which will produce over 1.3 GWh of renewable energy annually. The project, involving the installation of approximately 1,380 photovoltaic panels, is expected to be completed by September, reducing CO₂ emissions by about 337 tonnes per year. The initiative, supported by a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA), aims to provide competitive energy prices and long-term financial resilience for Hovione. Greenvolt Group CEO João Manso Neto and Hovione CEO Jean-Luc Herbeaux highlighted the project's role in advancing sustainability. Additionally, Greenvolt reported a 121% increase in total revenue to 777 million in 2025.
Portugal will establish a European hub focused on mitigating the environmental footprint of medicinal products.
The decision follows a technical assessment by municipal services, which concluded that the location of 20 jacaranda trees conflicts with the urban development project.
The transition away from fossil fuels may have its origins in Santa Marta.
The Passivhaus Portugal association will be present at the Tektónica 2026 trade fair in Lisbon, according to O Ilhavense.
The Sintra City Council is launching the 'Guardians of the Sintra Forest' project to involve local youth in forest management and environmental conservation. The initiative brings together 20 scout and guide groups to manage an eight-hectare area within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, focusing on ecological restoration, fire prevention, and the planting of 20 native species. The project is supported by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests and includes a fundraising campaign through the sale of animal calendars to support the participating groups.
The meeting follows the Open Presidency in the central regions affected by storms and floods. Experts in the fields of energy, telecommunications, agriculture, forestry, wildfires, infrastructure, climate, and sustainability were present at the Belém Palace.
Eight vessels, some associated with the illegal harvesting of Japanese clams in the Tagus River, were seized during an inspection operation carried out overnight, the Maritime Police (PM) reported on Thursday, April 16. In a statement, the PM announced that during the inspection in the Tagus estuary, aimed at combating illegal Japanese clam harvesting, several irregularities were detected, including a lack of vessel and engine registration, and fishing gear used for illegal harvesting was also seized. The Maritime Police emphasized its commitment to combating this phenomenon, which threatens the sustainability of natural resources and poses a public health risk due to the introduction of products into the market without sanitary control and prohibited by law. The operation involved naval and land assets, mobilizing various operational units of the Maritime Police.
The Government has paid €3.3 million to 431 farmers affected by bad weather as part of a support scheme providing up to €10,000 for municipalities in a state of calamity, Minister of Agriculture José Manuel Fernandes announced on Wednesday, April 15, in Lisbon. The minister noted that priority was given to the most affected areas and urged farmers to submit applications for the restoration of productive potential before the April 30 deadline. While agricultural losses are estimated at around €500 million, the minister clarified that additional EU support is expected to be limited.
A flexitarian diet, richer in vegetables, would save thousands of lives in Portugal, argues Marco Springmann. 'It makes no sense to serve beef in public canteens,' he warns.
Portugal continues to have several urban areas with high concentrations of air pollutants, warns the environmental association Zero, advocating for a significant reduction in vehicles on the road and the electrification of freight transport, buses, and collective light vehicles. To reduce air pollution in urban areas, it is necessary to replace older fleets with electric vehicles, especially for intensive use, the association explains in a statement released for International Day of Clean Air, marked on Sunday, April 12. The proposed measures not only improve air quality but also reduce dependence on fossil fuels, serving as an effective way to address rising fuel prices resulting from the current geopolitical context. However, the association laments that the Portuguese trend has been an increase in traffic in urban areas, such as the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, and that Portugal lags behind in the European Union in the electrification of logistics and public passenger transport. Recalling that air pollution is a leading cause of premature death globally, surpassing tobacco, Zero highlights how air pollution is associated with diseases such as stroke, respiratory illnesses, and lung cancer, with its impact on children being particularly concerning. In Portugal, air pollution is responsible for the premature death of about 4,200 people per year, equivalent to 12 deaths per day—deaths that Zero considers largely preventable if the values recommended by the World Health Organization were met. Road transport is one of the main sources of air pollution, especially in urban environments, contributing to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particles, and ozone (as a precursor), making it essential to act in this sector, Zero reinforces. Zero wants the Lisbon Metro to open at 05:30 due to the increase in fuel prices.
The system, named Volta, aims to recycle 90% of covered products by 2029.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, stated that while Portugal is not immune to global price fluctuations, it is well-protected against supply shortages due to its high reliance on renewable energy and diversified gas import sources. The minister noted that over 80% of Portugal's electricity is renewable, shielding it from gas-driven price volatility, and highlighted the country's robust port infrastructure for natural gas compared to other European nations. The government is currently awaiting a European Union decision regarding potential taxes on the extraordinary profits of energy companies.
A return system for plastic and metal packaging comes into force this Friday.
A network of 72 European Climate Pact ambassadors brings together diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. The national meeting includes the official launch of the book 'A World without Politicians' by Pedro Macedo.
Maria da Graça Carvalho stressed that these works “must move forward quickly” to ensure safety.
The 2nd National Congress on Health and Environment takes place today and tomorrow in Lisbon. “It is crucial to communicate that health and the environment are inseparable,” argues the Portuguese Council for Health and Environment.
Health and environment will be debated by more than 100 experts at the National Congress on Health and Environment at the Gulbenkian. One of the main topics is the impact of environmental changes on health.
Portugal will be the first country in Southern Europe to have a deposit and refund system in operation. For five years, Lidl customers in Mafra have been testing the system, which will now be implemented nationwide.
The congress takes place over two days and brings together more than 100 experts across 20 sessions.
