Sustainable Living
See today's Pulse →
Pulse

8 September 2026

Bom dia. Today's Pulse begins underwater, with seahorses making a home out of what we threw away, and ends with markets, gardens and dance floors. In between: the air we breathe, the waste we make, and the fields that feed us.

Wild things, unexpected places

Discarded supermarket trolleys become seahorse shelters in Tagus

Nine supermarket trolleys dumped in the Tagus River near Trafaria Bay, in the municipality of Almada, have become artificial shelters supporting a significant population of seahorses. The metal frames, submerged in the water, offer structure that the animals use to cling to and hide among, similar to natural vegetation or reef features. Their unexpected role highlights how discarded urban debris can sometimes provide habitat in degraded aquatic environments.

LisbonEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at The Portugal News ↗

Two golden eagle chicks moved to Peneda-Gerês for release

Two golden eagle chicks born on 8 June at the Parque Biológico de Gaia, part of a captive-breeding programme run by ICNF with Spanish NGO GREFA, have been moved to an acclimatisation facility in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. Raised entirely by their parents to preserve natural behaviours, they will complete their adaptation there before being released into the wild. The programme aims to reinforce the species in the cross-border Gerês-Xurés area, where breeding pairs disappeared around 2007. Golden eagles are classified as Endangered in Portugal, with about 65 breeding pairs currently known nationwide.

NorteEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Ambiente Magazine ↗ View project: Parque Biológico de Gaia →

Coimbra community garden marks five years with public event

Jardim Monte Formoso, a community garden in Coimbra, is marking its fifth anniversary with an event on urban biodiversity and citizen involvement in caring for public green spaces. The gathering, called "Quem Cuida da Cidade? — Uma conversa no Jardim", takes place on 12 September at 16:30 in the garden on Rua do Brasil. It forms part of the anniversary celebrations for the project.

CentroEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Notícias de Coimbra ↗

Uninvited guests

Invasive pampas grass now found in over 200 Portuguese municipalities

A scientific study cited by researchers at the Coimbra Agrarian School found Cortaderia selloana, or pampas grass, present in 208 mainland Portuguese municipalities, making it one of the country's ten most widespread invasive plants. Legally banned since 2019 as an invasive species, it is still sold and planted ornamentally, and experts warn its pollen can trigger allergic reactions. Researchers from the EU-funded LIFE COOP Cortaderia project say Portugal has the science, legislation and methods needed to act but lacks coordinated, timely enforcement, and that delay makes eradication increasingly costly and eventually impossible.

Ecosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Agroportal ↗ View project: ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas →

Azores secures EU funding to eradicate Asian hornet

The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, partnering with the Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation, has had a project approved under the European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund to combat the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in the Azores. The 12-month project has funding of nearly 50,000 euros and aims to strengthen regional surveillance, detection and early intervention against the invasive species, which preys on bees and threatens beekeeping. Being an island territory, the Azores could achieve a far more effective response if the hornet is detected before it becomes established and spreads.

AzoresEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Voz do Campo ↗

Invasive seaweed spreading along Sines coastline, researchers say

Researchers have raised concerns about an invasive alga that has been spreading across the seabed off the coast of Sines over the past two to three years. The spread has been gradually gaining ground, prompting scientific attention to its potential impact on the local marine ecosystem. Further details on the species and its effects were not included in the available text.

AlentejoEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Agroportal ↗

The air we breathe

Pilot project finds air quality issues at Freixo school

A pilot study called 'Respirar Fundo', run by the Associação Bora Ambientar since September 2025 across 13 Portuguese schools, found that Escola Básica de Freixo, in Ponte de Lima, recorded pollutant concentrations exceeding legal limits, particularly PM2.5 and PM10 particles. Unlike most schools, where pollution peaks matched traffic patterns, Freixo showed higher concentrations at night and weekends, suggesting external sources such as biomass heating or burning. Nine of the 12 schools monitored so far would already breach stricter EU limits due in 2030. A new phase, 'Respirar+Fundo', is planned from October, expanding monitoring to other regions.

NorteHealth & WellbeingRead more at Alto Minho ↗

Braga council has planted almost 60,000 trees since 2014

A study commissioned by Braga City Council found that more than 57,000 trees have been planted in the municipality since 2014, when the Juntos Por Braga coalition took office. The figures, produced by iTINERIS, were presented on International Clean Air for Blue Skies Day. Deputy mayor Altino Bessa said that once the 2025 and 2026 editions of the 'Reflorestar Braga' programme and the 2026 'Oxigenar Braga' initiative are added, the total will exceed 60,000 trees. The council links the planting effort to improved air quality in the area.

NorteEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at Diário do Minho ↗

Vila Nova de Gaia still lacks climate action plan

The European Climate Pact says Vila Nova de Gaia has no approved Municipal Climate Action Plan, breaching the Climate Framework Law, which required all Portuguese municipalities to have one in force since December 2023. Ambassador Mafalda Bastos de Moura says the council needs an integrated strategy covering sea-level rise, heatwaves and extreme events, including planned relocation for at-risk families and climate shelters. She criticised the recent opening of a new swimming pool as disconnected from wider climate planning. Residents held community meetings on 18 July with the Último Recurso association and sent the council an open letter demanding a genuine participatory process.

NorteCommunity & Social InnovationRead more at Ambiente Magazine ↗

What we throw away

Portugal approves Terra+ strategy to cut landfill waste

The Portuguese government approved the Terra+ strategy on 4 September, aiming to send only 10% of waste to landfill by 2035. Minister António Leitão Amaro said Portugal is running out of space for its rubbish, with more than half of waste still going to landfill and 13 of the country's 32 landfills nearly full. The plan, following public consultation after its initial approval in April, focuses on waste prevention, behavioural change and better sorting. Implementation is expected to require €2.3 billion in investment, including €1.6 billion in public funds, between 2026 and 2030.

Products, Consumption & CircularRead more at Ambiente Online ↗

Deposit-return kiosk network aims for 50 sites

SDR Portugal is expanding its deposit-return kiosk network, with six kiosks already operating in Albufeira, Barcelos, Cascais, Funchal, Ponta Delgada and Vila Nova de Famalicão, and a target of 50 nationwide. The push targets the HoReCa sector, which returns large volumes of packaging at once. Six more kiosks are being installed, and agreements are in place with six further municipalities. Alongside kiosks, businesses can use automated return points, now numbering over 3,000, or a direct collection service. The refundable deposit is 0.10 euros per unit, reimbursed via the volta€ app or donated to charity.

Products, Consumption & CircularRead more at Revista Sustentável ↗ View project: LPN – Liga para a Protecção da Natureza →

Energy, grids and big decisions

Galp wind farm planned near three protected areas in Alentejo

Galp has proposed the Mira Wind Project, adding 22 turbines to its existing Ourique photovoltaic plant, across Odemira and Ourique. The scoping proposal for the Environmental Impact Study, open for public consultation until 24 September, shows the site lies as close as 5.1 km from the Castro Verde and Costa Sudoeste protected areas and 8.6 km from the Piçarras special protection zone, though it does not overlap them. The project would have 158.4 MW of installed capacity, an estimated annual output of 377.94 GWh, and would avoid around 8.64 kilotonnes of CO2 emissions yearly. Construction is expected to take about 15 months, with a 25-year operating life.

AlentejoEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

Catholic University's Braga campus launches solar energy community

The Braga campus of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa launched an Energy Community in partnership with Greenvolt Comunidades. The project involved installing 57 kilowatts of solar panels in a carport-style covered car park, enabling clean electricity production and self-consumption on campus. It is also meant to pave the way for future decentralised sharing of energy with the surrounding community. The launch ceremony took place at the Isidro Alves Auditorium, with remarks from the university's pro-rector for the Braga campus, Paulo Dias.

NorteEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Diário do Minho ↗

Five climate and energy projects join Portuguese deep tech programme

Tech Foundry Portugal – Deep Tech Edition, a national acceleration programme, launched in Porto with 31 projects chosen from 98 applications nationwide. Five of them focus on climate and energy transition, alongside projects in health, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, robotics and aerospace. Run by Startup Portugal with Hello Tomorrow and Porto Business School, and backed by Porto's city council, the three-month programme offers technology validation, business modelling support and access to investors, ending on 15 December with a Demo Day. Participants also gain access to Hello Tomorrow's international network of over 5,000 startups and around 1,300 specialised investors.

NorteEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

Pressure in the fields

Maize field day in Coruche gathers 240 for tech and soil debate

The InovMilho centre held its annual Field Day at the Estação Experimental António Teixeira in Coruche on 2 September, drawing around 240 farmers, technicians, researchers and officials. Sessions covered precision agriculture, satellite monitoring, soil management and wild boar control measures. A collaboration protocol was signed linking the B-Rural initiative with Portugal's university and polytechnic councils. ANPROMIS president Jorge Durão Neves criticised the extraordinary maize aid of 61 euros per hectare in Portugal as lower than Spain's 92.50 euros, citing rising fertiliser and fuel costs. Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes announced a pilot scheme paying hunters per wild boar culled in overpopulated areas.

LisbonFood & AgricultureRead more at Agroportal ↗

Getting around

Leiria's sustainable mobility plan opens to public consultation

Leiria's Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (PMUS) is currently open for public consultation, as required of the 13 municipalities forming the Trans-European Transport Network's Urban Nodes. The plan focuses on pedestrianisation, cycling, parking rationalisation and public transport, but lacks an urban planning framework. It proposes four pedestrian zones, including the historic centre and city hall square, which an opinion piece warns could choke traffic on Avenida Marquês de Pombal and turn the historic centre into a ghetto. The plan is estimated to cost €572 million, financed 40% by the municipal council and 60% through structural funds.

CentroEnergy, Water & MobilityMore on this story →

Water, land and recovery

Algarve irrigation upgrade to save 19 million cubic metres of water

A €15 million modernisation of the Alvor Irrigation Scheme in the Algarve aims to cut water losses and boost efficiency in one of the region's older agricultural irrigation networks. The investment is expected to save 19 million cubic metres of water. The scheme comes amid ongoing concern over water scarcity in the Algarve, where agriculture is a major consumer of the region's limited supplies.

AlgarveEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at The Portugal News ↗

Alto Alentejo water utility seeks €9.4m in EU funding

Águas do Alto Alentejo (AAA), the inter-municipal water company, said it has submitted applications for European Union funding worth around €9.4 million since January. The money would go towards renewing water supply equipment in the region. No further details were given on which specific projects or municipalities would benefit, or on the timeline for a decision on the applications.

AlentejoEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at The Portugal News ↗

Esposende starts €2.6m sewage works in Vila Chã

Esposende municipality, EAmb and Águas do Norte have formally launched the first phase of a €2.6 million sewage and drainage project in the parish of Vila Chã. Works will cover Rua Nova, Rua Aldeia de Cima, Rua da Igreja and Rua de S. Gibas, bringing wastewater drainage to about 300 residents, followed by full repaving of the streets involved. The project also includes rainwater drainage improvements, rehabilitation of the water supply network, and construction of the Vila Chã interceptor linking to the Marinhas wastewater treatment plant. Execution is expected to take 24 months.

NorteEnergy, Water & MobilityRead more at Ambiente Magazine ↗

Cávado region clears over 70km of forest roads since May

The Cávado Intermunicipal Community is using a bulldozer to clear and repair forest roads and create fuel management strips across its member municipalities, as part of year-round wildfire prevention work. The machine has already improved more than 70km of forest tracks since May, having worked in Terras de Bouro and Vila Verde and now operating in Barcelos. Officials describe the effort as structural work to strengthen emergency response capacity and territorial safety. The bulldozer will continue touring the region's municipalities as part of joint efforts to adapt to climate-related wildfire risks.

NorteEcosystems & BiodiversityRead more at O Minho ↗

Business getting serious

BCSD Portugal rebrands as it marks 25 years

BCSD Portugal, the business council for sustainable development, has adopted a new visual identity and renewed ambition as it turns 25. The organisation, which brings together more than 200 companies and stakeholders, says the rebrand centres on leadership, credibility, collaboration and innovation, built around a redesigned sustainability triangle symbol and a colour palette reflecting environmental, social and governance pillars. Chair Rita Nabeiro says the mission remains unchanged: working with businesses to accelerate a more sustainable economy. The anniversary will be marked at the organisation's annual conference in October.

Community & Social InnovationRead more at Jornal PT Green ↗

Sustainable products drive faster growth at Obras360

Obras360, a Portuguese construction supplies retailer, reports that demand for sustainable products is growing twice as fast as its other categories. Solar photovoltaic modules, solar water heating systems and high-performance thermal insulation like rock wool are among the most sought-after items. Over 90% of the company's customers are construction professionals, reflecting growing sustainability criteria in the sector's purchasing decisions. Obras360 is expanding its solar and residential battery offering and has introduced a product recommendation system that has boosted online conversion rates by more than 15%.

Construction & HousingRead more at Green Savers ↗

Portugal-Spain hospital sustainability project holds closing event in Portimão

The Green Hospitals project, a three-year cross-border cooperation between Portugal and Spain aimed at reducing hospitals' environmental footprint, will hold its closing ceremony on 17 September at ULS Algarve's Portimão unit. Experts, hospital administrators and institutional representatives from both countries will present the project's results, solutions and best practices. APAH president Xavier Barreto said the initiative showed sustainability and innovation can be combined in public healthcare, and called for the work to continue and be replicated. The event will also include the presentation of Energy Saving Awards. The project involves five Portuguese and two Spanish institutions under the POCTEP 2021-2027 programme.

AlgarveHealth & WellbeingRead more at Jornal do Algarve ↗

Knowledge in the making

Lisbon to host global green chemistry conference in September

From 8 to 12 September, Lisbon's NOVA School of Science and Technology and the University of Lisbon's Faculty of Pharmacy will host the 11th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry, gathering around 600 researchers from around the world. Nobel laureates Omar M. Yaghi and Morten P. Meldal will take part, alongside prominent figures such as Paul Anastas and Martyn Poliakoff. Topics will include green energy, bioeconomy, carbon capture, clean industry and the role of artificial intelligence in chemical research. Organisers say the event aims to strengthen Portugal's international standing in sustainable chemistry and foster collaboration across generations of scientists.

LisbonEducation & Eco-tourismMore on this story →

CITAB to develop natural biostimulants for sustainable cherry farming

The CITAB research centre at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is launching the BIOsCherry project, funded by the 'la Caixa' Foundation, to develop natural biostimulants for cherry production. Led by researcher Berta Gonçalves, the project aims to create prototype products that help cherry trees withstand environmental stresses, improving productivity and fruit quality. The most promising biostimulants will be trialled in orchards in Trás-os-Montes and Fundão. The technology could later be extended to other fruit trees such as apple, pear and peach.

NorteFood & AgricultureRead more at Voz do Campo ↗

Protocol signed to create European Merino Precoce Federation

A protocol was signed during an agricultural event establishing the European Federation of Merino Precoce Sheep Breeders' Associations. The initiative brings together breeders and associations from different countries seeking to coordinate efforts around the Merino Precoce breed. It was promoted by the Portuguese Association of Merino Precoce Sheep Breeders, which has been recognised for its work supporting the breed. The federation aims to help the breed gain greater recognition in both the national and European livestock sectors.

AlentejoFood & AgricultureRead more at Voz do Campo ↗

Close to home

Craft and culture market returns to Olhão marina

The ARSAPAO association is holding the 5th edition of the Rituais do Sul market on 12 and 13 September at Marina Ria Center in Olhão, running from 18:00 to midnight. The event brings together craftspeople, producers, musicians and authors around Algarve identity, local produce, literature, music, dance and wellbeing. Highlights include author João Carlos Sancho Horta Correia presenting his book on traditional chimneys of the eastern Algarve, an acoustic performance by singer-songwriter Paulo Amado, and a Zumba session led by instructor Elsa Romeira.

AlgarveCommunity & Social InnovationRead more at Postal ↗

Applications open for AGROBIO 2026 organic farming awards

AGROBIO, the Portuguese Association of Organic Farming, has opened applications for its 2026 National Organic Farming Awards, part of the National Meeting on Organic Agriculture and Production. The awards recognise producers, projects, institutions and individuals who have contributed to developing and promoting organic farming in Portugal, across four categories including innovation and personalities. The event takes place on 23-25 September 2026 at the Coimbra Agricultural College (ESAC), with the awards ceremony on 24 September. Applications and nominations close on 15 September and can be submitted via an online form.

CentroFood & AgricultureRead more at Agroportal ↗ View project: AGROBIO – Associação Portuguesa de Agricultura Biológica →
Seven days of the Pulse, curated into one weekly read.Read the Weekly Pulse

The Pulse in your inbox

A short read every morning — what's happening across sustainable Portugal.

Recent