Heat speeds up food waste
A heatwave is spoiling food faster and worsening Portugal's already high waste levels. Too Good To Go shares tips and notes that 28% of Portuguese waste more in summer.
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Pulse
7 July 2026
Good morning! Today's Pulse carries the weight of summer heat, from water use to food waste, alongside quiet good news for rivers, soil and renewable energy.
AGERE urges mindful water use
With demand rising in the heat, AGERE asks residents to avoid non-essential use and water gardens at night to protect supply.
Vale Carapito becomes a protected area
The 48-hectare Vale Carapito in Sabugal is now Portugal's fifth Private Protected Area, home to black vultures, red kites and otters.
Healthy soil could cool the land
A Save Soil report warns that degraded soil is amplifying warming, while restoring soil and vegetation could cool up to three times more.
AFA plants 70 native trees
To mark its 45th anniversary, the AFA Group planted 70 endemic trees in Madeira with staff and families, aiding biodiversity and water retention.
Odeleite's Blue Flag river beach
Odeleite River Beach in Castro Marim earned its first Blue Flag, becoming the only Algarve river beach with the distinction.
Bureaucracy holds back energy investment
The RAISE-PT study of 100 organisations finds red tape and slow processes are the main brakes on energy transition investment.
Priority for most, action for fewer
A RAVE study finds 80% of organisations see energy transition as a priority, yet only 69% actually invested in the past three years.
Push to speed up energy communities
Parliament approved resolutions to streamline Renewable Energy Communities, including fee exemptions and a single digital platform.
Maximise solar on existing structures
An article argues Portugal should prioritise adding solar to existing infrastructure, avoiding the need for new construction.
First biomethane certification for transport
REN registered Portugal's first Guarantees of Origin for biomethane used in transport, with G3 | Go Green Gas as the first certifier.
Renewable gas enters mobility
For the first time in Portugal, biomethane is used in transport with a guarantee of origin, a milestone for renewable gas in mobility.
Bringing young people to rural life
AJAP reports a record 24,500 applications to the Single Application and discusses attracting youth to rural territories.
Microalgae ingredients for health
Necton leads the CHLOROFIT project to develop nutraceutical ingredients from microalgae chlorophyll for metabolic health.
Open innovation in agrifood
The Erasmus+ AgriFood4Future project connects companies with startups and researchers to pilot solutions, with applications open to 30 September.
Weekly maize irrigation guidance
ANPROMIS issued its 6-12 July irrigation recommendations for maize across several regions, based on simplified water balance data.
Funchal collects bulky waste
Funchal's July campaign collects bulky items like fridges and mattresses, with residents booking through their parish councils.
Mobile eco-centre in São Martinho
Funchal's mobile eco-centre stays in São Martinho all July for hazardous household waste like batteries and lamps.
Electric street cleaning in Portalegre
Portalegre bought a new electric sweeping machine to make street cleaning faster, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Valença plans a new city heart
The Valença 2030 masterplan aims to regenerate the centre with cultural spaces and sustainable mobility linking key landmarks.
Young voices on water's future
Over 40 young workers from Águas de Portugal met in Carcavelos to debate the water sector's future and how to attract new talent.
Ocean energy research centre for Viana
Viana do Castelo approved a 5.1 million euro protocol to build an ocean energy and technology research centre, seeking EU funding.
Young forest volunteers in Alvaredo
Alvaredo parish seeks volunteers aged 14 to 18 to protect native forest under a nature and forestry programme this summer.
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