Portugal's Environment and Energy Minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, has admitted that several territories in the north of the country are on the verge of entering an extreme drought phase. Speaking at Parliament during a hearing regarding the 2027 State Budget, the minister highlighted the paradoxical situation where areas that were flooded just three months ago are now facing severe water scarcity due to months without rain.
Carvalho stated that while the government has avoided generating excessive news coverage to prevent public insecurity, it is actively monitoring dam levels. The administration is preparing for a rapid shift in weather patterns, with plans to begin emptying reservoirs if heavy rainfall occurs. The minister emphasized that the current working environment requires readiness for sudden changes and extreme events, ranging from severe droughts to flash floods that could happen within a month or less.
To address the immediate water crisis, the government is establishing redundancies in water supply systems for the most affected territories. Carvalho noted that while the reaction must be swift, administrative constraints sometimes make rapid implementation difficult. The ministry is currently balancing the need to manage low water levels with the necessity of preparing infrastructure for potential flooding in the coming weeks.
Beyond water management, the minister addressed the critical issue of waste management, describing it as the "worst legacy" she inherited. With a budget of 600 million euros under the Terra+ program, the government aims to reduce the country's excessive dependence on landfills. Carvalho reported that available landfill capacity increased from 12% in 2022 to 25% in 2025, though she acknowledged this is not a complete solution.
The minister warned that without urgent alternatives, the country risks becoming a nation of dumps as existing landfills fill up. She highlighted the Algarve region, where over 85% of waste ends up in landfills and annual urban waste production exceeds 400,000 tons. To tackle this, the government recently signed an agreement with the Environment Agency (APA) and universities to study technical solutions for waste treatment in the region.
Carvalho stressed that solving these issues requires collaboration between the central government, local authorities, and the population. She pointed out that systematic opposition from local officials hinders progress and called for greater public acceptance of new technologies, such as biological and mechanical treatment. The minister concluded by urging citizens to reduce waste generation and improve separation practices to support these scientific solutions.
Sources: Observador.