Environmental news, climate policy, and sustainability in Portugal.
The cabinet approved new limits and a special programme for Portugal's only national park. The text is not yet public, but the 2024 draft shows what it governs: camping, drones, forest roads, foraging, and a boundary that could take in Vieira do Minho.
The environment minister told parliament that lower-income households will get up to 80 percent support to buy an electric vehicle in 2027, and the general Fundo Ambiental incentive will rise to 50 million euros. No rules or dates have been published yet.
A decree published today replaces the fixed shares of Portugal's waste management tax: from 2027 at least 60 percent must reach the Environmental Fund for waste projects, councils get at least 30 percent, and councils that meet their waste plans escape the yearly 5 euro rise.
A proposed methodology would let projects that restore or protect seagrass meadows earn carbon credits in Portugal, over 10 to 30 years. The technical committee backs it but wants changes, and the public can comment until 22 November.
The EU's LIFE programme will pay 1.56 million euros towards a five-year fight against water primrose in the Coimbra Region. Four more Portuguese-led projects cover Misericórdia buildings, energy poverty, hospital wastewater and environmental crime.
Kariba, an African elephant at a Belgian zoo, should join Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, at the Pangea sanctuary near Vila Viçosa around mid-November. A third may follow early next year. What the sanctuary is, who can visit, and what the circus law says.
APA has issued an unfavourable environmental impact statement on a 15.9 MW solar plant planned beside the Penedo Ruivo wind farm in Baião and Amarante, citing wolves, Natura 2000 habitat and municipal planning bans, and says a redesign on the same site would not solve the problems.
