Climate change research and policy in Portugal

Abstract

This article offers a review of research and policy on climate change in Portugal and is organized into three main themes: scientific knowledge and assessment of climate change; policy analysis and evaluation; and public engagement. Modern scientific research on meteorology and climatology started in Portugal in the 1950s and a strong community of researchers in climate science, vulnerabilities, impacts, and adaptation has since developed, particularly in the last decade. Nevertheless, there are still many gaps in research, especially regarding the economic costs of climate change in Portugal and costs and benefits of adaptation. Governmental policies with a strong emphasis on mitigation were introduced at the end of the 1990s. As greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise beyond its Kyoto target for 2012, the country had to resort to the Kyoto Flexibility Mechanisms in order to comply. Climate change adaptation policies were introduced in 2010 but are far from being fully implemented. Regarding public engagement with climate change, high levels of concern contrast with limited understanding and rather weak behavioral dispositions to address climate change. Citizens display a heavy reliance on the media as sources of information, which are dominated by a techno-managerial discourse mainly focused on the global level. The final part of the article identifies research gaps and outlines a research agenda. Connections between policy and research are also discussed.

Understanding climate change policy and action in Portuguese municipalities: A survey

“…Therefore, richer municipalities are likely to be better equipped to receive extra funds for adaptation. The low importance attributed to adaptation in comparison with mitigation may also be explained by the fact that mitigation seems to be better understood and have a more immediate outcome and short-term policy guidance (Carvalho et al, 2014). Conversely, adaptation is likely to have a long-term goal (Pelling, 2010) and may be more challenging for policymakers, given election dynamics; but also due to a tendency for a short-term focus, and a perception that threats are not eminent and can be dealt with at a later time (Füssel, 2007;Berrang-Ford et al, 2011).…”

“…Portugal is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts (from rising sea levels, to heat waves, flooding and droughts), with a low level of adaptive capacity, with very few implemented measures, and little policy integration and coordination across levels and scales of governance Carvalho et al, 2014;Ciscar et al, 2011). The requirement for implementing climate change policies is, in the majority of cases, voluntary and non-binding (Carvalho et al, 2014). This article hypothesizes that National and European climate change adaptation strategies are not effectively involving municipalities, and are thus losing out on the opportunity to take stock of the growing importance of local responses for climate change mitigation and adaptation.…”

Participation, scenarios and pathways in long-term planning for climate change adaptation

“…Long-term plans should involve a diversity of social actors in co-developing and envisioning futures, yet this is problematic when participation is not common in policy-making processes (Carvalho, Schmidt, Santos, & Delicado, 2014). It can also be difficult to mediate the different perceptions on climate change.…”

“…National and local climate change adaptation policies are still emerging (Carvalho et al, 2014). The National Adaptation Strategy (PNAS, 2013) was launched in 2010 as a non-binding programme, but did not translate into official guidelines for action planning .…”

Climate Change Communication in Portugal

“…The financial and economic crises that led the country to apply for assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union in 2011 compelled it to adopt severe austerity measures, which have also affected the implementation of climate change policies. Nonetheless, the economic slowdown has contributed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and in 2012 the country reached its Kyoto targets (Carvalho, Schmidt, Santos, & Delicado, 2014).…”