Portugal comprises the European mainland and the Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira, totalling 92,225 km² with a 2,612 km² coastline. Its climate is defined by a transition between Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, creating significant regional contrasts.
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Available Solutions
Nature-based Solutions for Flood Risk Mitigation in Mafra
The municipality of Mafra faces significant flood risks driven by heavy rainfall and the impacts of climate change on its urban and natural landscapes. To address these hazards, the region is implementing Nature-based Solutions, including the restoration of natural drainage systems and the use of permeable materials. These interventions aim to improve water retention and urban resilience while protecting the local biodiversity of the Lizandro river basin.
Strategic Climate Adaptation for Water Scarcity and Extreme Heat in Baixo Alentejo
The Baixo Alentejo region faces significant climate vulnerability characterised by recurrent droughts and extreme heatwaves that threaten public health, agriculture, and local ecosystems. To address these hazards, the region has invested in water storage systems and is operationalising the Climate Change Adaptation Intermunicipal Plan, aiming to accelerate regional climate transformation and ensure long-term resilience against the increasing risks of water scarcity and future climatic challenges.
Learn more about strategic climate adaptation in Baixo Alentejo
Integrated Forest Management and Wildfire Resilience in Central Portugal
Central Portugal is increasingly vulnerable to major forest fires, droughts, and heatwaves that threaten biodiversity and the sustainability of agroforestry systems. The region implemented integrated solutions, such as the "Village Condominiums" approach and the valorisation of biomass for renewable gas production to enhance landscape resilience, aiming to transform land management and protect the social and economic potential of the local forests.
Learn more about integrated forest management in Central Portugal
Community-Focused Climate Action and Strategic Adaptation in Valongo
Valongo is addressing the complex challenges and impacts posed by climate change, prioritizing the safety and resilience of its local territory. The municipality is developing and implementing tailored strategies designed to tackle environmental shifts while meeting the specific needs of its communities, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of climate risks to ensure effective, long term protection for the region.
Learn more about community-focused climate action in Valongo
Managing Extreme Heat and Urban Heat Island Effects in Amadora
Amadora is a densely populated municipality near Lisbon, increasingly threatened by extreme heatwaves and rising temperatures exacerbated by the urban heat island effect. The city is implementing a multi-agency approach that includes an early warning system, the expansion of urban green spaces, and the integration of heat risk into urban planning, aiming to ensure resident safety and embed long-term climate resilience into its strategic framework.
Inclusive Governance and Community-Led Climate Adaptation in Torres Vedras
The Municipality of Torres Vedras is addressing the urgent need for local climate resilience and adaptive frameworks to protect its territory from environmental changes. The region is implementing solutions focused on inclusive governance, strategic planning, and active citizen engagement to foster community-led climate action. Through support from the EU Mission, these frameworks aim to drive effective local adaptation.
Learn more about inclusive governance and community-led adaptation
Integrated Landscape Management and Forest Fire Resilience in Portugal’s Centro Region
The Centro region faces severe forest fire risks, exacerbated by highly fragmented and privately owned land that complicates large-scale management. To mitigate these hazards, the region is implementing "Landscape Management Integrated Areas", which promote collective forest management and the introduction of fire-resilient species. They involve community engagement and training to enhance natural capital and foster sustainable rural economies through better land use planning.
Learn more about forest fire resilience in Portugal’s Centro Region
Urban Park and Flood Retention Systems for Climate Resilience in Setúbal
The city of Setúbal faces significant vulnerabilities to flash floods in its downtown area and increasing urban overheating due to climate change. To mitigate these hazards, the Várzea Urban Park project implements retention basins to manage heavy rainfall alongside a green park that enhances the soil's "sponge effect" for water absorption. This nature-based solution simultaneously reduces city center temperatures and promotes local biodiversity while serving as a site for environmental education.
Learn more about urban park and flood retention systems in Setúbal
Ecological Rehabilitation and Coastal Dune Resilience in Guincho-Cresmina
The Guincho-Cresmina coastal dune system faces significant degradation and erosion risks exacerbated by extreme weather conditions and climate change. To address these hazards, the region is implementing nature-based solutions, including the removal of invasive species and the re-introduction of native vegetation to stabilise the dunes, aiming to restore natural processes and ensure the long-term ecological balance of this vital coastline.
Learn more about ecological rehabilitation and coastal dune resilience
River Restoration and Green Corridor Development in Cascais
Cascais faces intensifying summer heat, alongside significant drought and flood risks that threaten both natural habitats and urban resident safety. To address these hazards, the city restored the Vinhas River and developed a green corridor connecting the mountains to the sea as a natural barrier against flooding and wildfires. It adapts to fluctuating water levels while providing residents with leisure spaces and enhancing biodiversity through a participatory, community-led process.
Learn more about river restoration and green corridor development in Cascais
Climate-ADAPT Case Studies: Highlighting Examples of Adaptation Actions
The Portuguese Integrated Rural Fire Management System
Portugal tackles severe rural fire hazards by implementing a whole-of-government management system.The strategy shifts the national focus from suppression to landscape-scale prevention and coordinated governance, protecting people and ecosystems by unifying diverse stakeholders under a common resilience goal.
Learn more about the Portuguese Integrated Rural Fire Management System
Integrated Prescribed Fire and Grazing for Forest Resilience in Viseu Dão-Lafões
Viseu Dão-Lafões faces severe wildfire risks driven by biomass accumulation and climate change. The region implements integrated prescribed fire and strategic grazing to naturally manage fuels to restore ecological balance while strengthening forest resilience in Central Portugal.
Learn more about integrated prescribed fire and grazing for forest resilience
National Heatwave Contingency Plan and Early Warning System in Continental Portugal
Portugal manages extreme heat risks and rising mortality through a national contingency plan operational during summer months. The system uses daily alerts to trigger localised health protection measures, emergency responses, and public awareness campaigns, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups like the elderly across all urban and rural regions.
Learn more about the National Heatwave Contingency Plan and Early Warning System
Regenerative Agroforestry and Drought Adaptation in the Alentejo Montado
Alentejo faces increasing desertification and water scarcity that threaten the region's traditional "Montado" ecosystems. The area implements regenerative solutions like keyline design and crop diversification to enhance soil water retention, which restore biodiversity and ensure the long-term economic viability of the local landscape.
Learn more about regenerative agroforestry and drought adaptation
Private Investment in Leakage Monitoring to Mitigate Water Scarcity in Lisbon
Lisbon addresses increasing water scarcity and infrastructure losses driven by climate change through private sector investment. The region implemented a smart leakage monitoring program using district metered areas and real-time sensors to detect faults, significantly reducing water losses and improved efficiency, securing a more resilient supply for the city's population.
Learn more about private investment in leakage monitoring to mitigate water scarcity in Lisbon
Water Retention Landscapes for Desertification and Drought Mitigation in Tamera
The Alentejo region faces severe erosion and desertification, leading to seasonal stream drying and loss of fertile topsoil. Tamera implements a system of lakes, swales, and terraces to capture rainwater and restore the natural groundwater cycle, enabling autonomous water supply and foster biodiversity in one of Portugal’s most arid regions.
Learn more about water retention landscapes for desertification and drought mitigation
Discover Climate Adaptation Tools
Adaptation Support Tool for Islands
It assists policy makers and coordinators on the regional and national levels in designing tailored climate change adaptation strategies and plans for their islands, including the Azores and Madeira.
Aqueduct Global Water Risk Atlas
It identifies and maps open-source, globally comparable information on water risks like floods, droughts and water stress.
Climate Change Adaptation Scoring Tool
It provide a systematic and simple framework to assess the quality of an adaptation plan, with particular reference to the local/municipal level.
Coastal Hazard Wheel
It facilitates coastal resilience by developing and maintaining a shared, science-based reference framework that addresses coastal hazards adaptation.
Climate Resilient City Tool
It supports the selection of nature-based adaptation options in urban adaptation planning and stakeholder dialogues, to address precipitation, drought and heat hazards.
Funding and Financing Opportunities
Learn more about how to seek and attract funding, European and national funding sources for adaptation, as well as funding opportunities from the Mission.
Learn more about funding and financing resources for Portugal
This factsheet, developed by Mission Project REGILIENCE+, provides a snapshot of how Portugal is tackling climate risks through real-life examples of regional or local action and good practices as well as case studies highlighting adaptation actions, showing what’s already working and what others can learn from.