The government has committed €110 million to support lithium extraction projects despite strong public opposition. Environmental groups describe the funding as a 'blank cheque' paid for by taxpayers, arguing it risks local ecosystems and undermines sustainability claims. The injection of public funds raises wider questions about fiscal priorities, state backing for critical minerals, regulatory oversight and democratic legitimacy amid popular resistance.

The Environment Minister announced a Special Programme for the Alqueva and Pedrógão reservoirs (PEAAP) to align water uses and environmental protection with current economic realities. Officials say the PEAAP will balance irrigation, tourism and conservation needs while updating management rules for the reservoirs. Landowners, farmers and local businesses in the Alentejo should watch for consultation stages and regulatory changes that could affect water allocations.

ANA | VINCI Airports has delivered the first environmental report for the planned Luís de Camões Airport to the Portuguese government, meeting the timetable set in the concession contract and moving the long permitting process forward. Multiple outlets say the submission is a formal milestone rather than final approval: further technical reviews and licences remain before construction can start. Those tracking transport projects or property near the proposed site should note the project is advancing but not yet authorised.

The European Investment Bank (Banco Europeu de Investimento or BEI) has approved a €175 million financing package to Iberdrola for two hybrid wind farms in the Tâmega area in northern Portugal, to be integrated with the Tâmega pumped‑storage hydro complex. Reports say the combined installations will add capacity linked to the Gouvães, Daivões and Alto Tâmega systems and help supply tens or hundreds of thousands of consumers; coverage highlights the project's role in Portugal's renewables and storage strategy. Local economic and environmental impacts will follow during construction; residents and jobseekers in the north should watch for procurement and local consultation notices.

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.

The Socialist Party (PS) parliamentary group will table an amendment this Wednesday to allow the previous and new electric mobility regimes — the latter published in August — to operate in parallel. Socialist deputy Pedro (quoted) says the proposal lets 'whoever wants to remain with the previous model stay' and those who prefer the new framework move to it, effectively offering regulated choice rather than a forced transition. Analytically, the move aims to protect operators and consumers from disruptive change and preserve investment and service continuity, but it also risks prolonging regulatory complexity and creating uncertainty for long-term EV policy and market signalling.

A chronicle of a forest turned upside down, caught between carbon and calamity. Opinion by Pedro Portugal

China has condemned the European Union’s new import-control mechanism targeting polluting products as discriminatory and unfair, and has pledged to take “necessary measures” in response. The move highlights a growing regulatory clash between trade and sustainability goals: while the EU says it seeks to curb pollution embedded in imports, affected exporters view the rules as protectionist. The dispute could prompt diplomatic friction, potential retaliatory actions or legal challenges and create uncertainty for supply chains and companies navigating diverging environmental standards.