Sustainability news in Portugal

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Public transport operator Carris has introduced 29 new fully electric buses in Lisbon, completing a 17.05 million euro investment funded by the PRR. The initiative is part of a broader 31 million euro project aimed at decarbonizing the city's fleet by 2030. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas and Minister Miguel Pinto Luz attended the presentation, noting that electric vehicles now account for over 50% of the company's total mileage.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports announced that Portugal has met all milestones established under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR) for the cultural sector. The initiative mobilized over 330 million euros, with a significant portion dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage.

Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that a proposed submarine electricity cable between Portugal and Morocco will only proceed if private or European Union funding is secured. The project remains in the discussion phase as the government seeks alternatives to strengthen national energy security.

The government has approved the Terra+ strategy to address the country's dwindling landfill capacity, describing it as one of the largest investment programs of the decade. While reports on the total investment amount vary between 1.6 billion and 2.3 billion euros, the plan aims to significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.

Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that the European Commission has accepted the Portuguese government's decision to re-enter the capital of the national energy grid operator, REN. The minister argued that public participation in the company enhances national energy security and sovereignty. Portugal was previously the only country in the European transmission network with a fully private operator.

Five months after the launch of the Volta System, the government admits the deposit and refund model faces challenges, including improper waste disposal and disorderly collection behavior. The Minister of Environment stated that authorities are analyzing the situation and seeking case-by-case solutions to improve the system's efficiency.

The British company Welink Energy Portugal 2 UK Limited, which operates a 220-megawatt solar power plant in Alcoutim, has filed for insolvency. The project, operational since 2021, faced financial difficulties due to lower-than-expected energy production and falling wholesale electricity prices in the Iberian market. The facility is currently being prepared for sale.

Welink Energy Portugal 2 UK, the company managing the Solara4 solar plant in Alcoutim, has entered insolvency proceedings. The facility, which is the largest solar power plant in Portugal, has faced persistent operational setbacks since its inauguration in 2021.

Provisional data from the platform EuroMomo indicates that over 30,000 excess deaths occurred across Europe between mid-June and mid-August, a period marked by exceptional heatwaves. In Portugal specifically, authorities recorded more than 600 excess deaths during the same timeframe.

New European Union regulations regarding end-of-life vehicles come into force this Thursday, August 13. The rules aim to boost the recycling and reuse of automotive materials while reducing the bloc's reliance on imported raw materials.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy announced an additional 4.2 million euros to support 23 municipalities affected by severe winter storms. The funding will focus on coastal rehabilitation and dredging at the mouth of the Mondego River.

Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho has announced plans for a new waste incinerator in the Algarve, estimated to cost €300 million. Environmental group ZERO has criticized the decision, arguing it undermines the circular economy, though the minister has expressed a willingness to discuss alternatives.

The government has updated the compensation scheme for livestock producers affected by Iberian wolf attacks to improve support and eligibility. Key changes include removing the progressive reduction of payments for multiple attacks and allowing compensation for missing animals, aiming for a better balance between species conservation and farm sustainability.

President of the Republic António José Seguro stated this Sunday that the revitalization of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park remains an unfulfilled promise four years after the 2022 wildfires. During a visit to the Guarda district, he noted that very little of the 155 million euros originally pledged for the region's recovery has been invested.

Update: Firefighters call for urgent reform of sector

The Portuguese Firefighters League has asked António José Seguro to use his influence to accelerate public discussion on structural reforms for the firefighting sector. Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves acknowledged the President's criticisms regarding wildfire prevention, describing them as a necessary wake-up call to improve response capabilities.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) confirmed that mainland Portugal entered a meteorological drought during July, which was the driest month of the century. The period included a heatwave that set new absolute temperature records across the country.

The Portuguese government has approved the 2026-2030 Development and Investment Plan for the National High and Medium Voltage Electricity Distribution Network (Plano de Desenvolvimento e Investimento da Rede Nacional de Distribuição de Electricidade em Alta Tensão e Média Tensão or PDIRD-E). This 1.58 billion euro project aims to improve grid resilience and reliability following recent storm damage and blackouts. The investment also supports the energy transition and the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid.

Starting August 10, retailers in Portugal are prohibited from selling single-use beverage containers that are not part of the national deposit return system known as Volta. Consumers will pay an additional 0.10 euro deposit per eligible plastic bottle or metal can, which can be reclaimed upon returning the packaging. Some restaurants have criticized the system, with some establishments opting to switch to glass bottles to avoid the new requirements.

The proposed Porto Metro line connecting Estádio do Dragão to the centre of Gondomar will require the removal of up to 533 trees and the demolition of 24 buildings. The project is currently under public consultation until 15 September, with officials evaluating two route alternatives. The study identifies that the underground option would result in a lower environmental impact compared to surface routes.

For the first time on record, solar energy was the primary source of electricity production in Portugal during July. Data from the National Energy Networks (Redes Energéticas Nacionais or REN) shows solar accounted for 19% of consumption, contributing to a month where renewables reached 53% of the national total.

The Minister of Agriculture has announced the opening of applications for financial support to restore productive potential for farmers in Valpaços. The recent wildfire, which burned 13,800 hectares, caused significant damage to vineyards, olive groves, and almond orchards in the region.

The government has launched the first funding notices from the Mobility and Transport Fund, allocating nearly two million euros to urban logistics, school mobility, and taxi decarbonization. Overseen by Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, the initiative aims to promote sustainable transport solutions and improve safety in urban areas.

The airport operator ANA | VINCI Airports has submitted the final Environmental Impact Study for the new Luís de Camões Airport to the Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente or APA). The 5,000-page report, developed over 18 months by more than 60 experts, evaluates impacts on water resources, noise levels, air quality, and socioeconomics.

The Almada City Council has extended its alert status regarding water supply failures until August 31. Despite water reserves reaching 78%, officials cited the expected increase in temperatures and the influx of tourists during the beach season as reasons to maintain restrictions. The municipality continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure supply stability.

The environmental organization Quercus has warned that the planned location for the new Lisbon airport poses a significant risk to the largest aquifer in the Iberian Peninsula. Environmentalists are calling for a rigorous assessment of the project's impact on the water supply for the Setúbal district.

Emergency services are currently battling multiple wildfires, including a large blaze in Agrelos, Alijó, which has mobilized 146 personnel and eight aerial assets. A separate fire in Mafra also required the deployment of over 100 responders and seven aerial units. To bolster national capacity, the company Avincis has leased two additional Super Scooper aircraft to assist in firefighting efforts through mid-October.

Update: Alijó wildfire situation improves as IC5 road reopens

The wildfire in Alijó has been reduced to a single active front, and traffic on the IC5 complementary route has returned to normal. While the situation is now considered favorable by Civil Protection, the blaze previously mobilized over 400 personnel when it threatened local homes.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) confirmed that the El Niño climate phenomenon has begun. Experts predict the warming of Pacific waters will remain strong and persist until early 2027, potentially impacting global weather patterns.

The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against Portugal for failing to fully transpose several EU directives. These include rules on migrant reception, environmental crime protection, and legislation designed to shield journalists from abusive lawsuits.

The environmental association Zero has warned that rural fires in 2025 have already destroyed 98% of the total land area projected to burn throughout the entire 2020-2030 decade. While operational responses have improved, 2025 was the fourth worst year for burnt area since 2001, with 271,000 hectares lost. Zero criticized the Integrated Fire Management Agency (Agência para a Gestão Integrada de Fogos Rurais or AGIF) for a lack of leadership and failure to implement necessary preventive measures.

Economist Joaquim Barbosa has been named the new president of the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (Associação Portuguesa de Energias Renováveis or APREN). Barbosa, who previously worked for BP in the United Kingdom, succeeds Pedro Amaral Jorge. He takes the role with a stated focus on continuing to drive Portugal's energy transition.

The Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security has received the final report from an expert working group regarding the long-term sustainability of the Social Security system. Led by economist Jorge Bravo, the review was originally scheduled for January but was delayed until June 30. The document is currently undergoing final edits before potential publication.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that June 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in Western Europe. Experts noted that extreme temperatures on land and at sea are evidence of accelerating climate change, with Europe warming twice as fast as the global average.

The Almada City Council has announced a ban on all non-essential water usage, including watering, to replenish reserves following persistent supply failures. Local officials hope to stabilize the situation within two to three weeks, though critics point to long-standing infrastructure neglect and high water loss rates in the municipality.