Source: European Parliament
Portugal aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 (see trajectory in Figure 1). In 2023, Portugal accounted for 1.7 % of the EU’s net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and achieved net emissions reductions of 43.9 % from 2005 to 2023, above the EU average reduction of 30.5 % over the same period. During that period, the country achieved a reduction of 66.2 % in emissions covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS). Portugal’s land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector has mostly performed as a carbon sink, except in 2017 on account of extensive forest fires. In May 2023, Portugal updated its national recovery and resilience plan and included a REPowerEU chapter. The plan dedicates 41.2 % of total funding to the climate transition. Portugal submitted a draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) in July 2023. The European Commission assessed it and made recommendations for the final updated NECP, which was submitted on 10 December 2024. The results from a 2023 Eurobarometer survey showed that 43 % of Portuguese, against an EU average of 46 %, find climate change to be one of the four most serious problems facing the world. Most expect the EU (52 %), national governments (47 %) and business and industry (41 %) to tackle climate change. Only 28 % find it to be a personal responsibility.