The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, stated that it is difficult for any country to be prepared for calamities of a certain dimension. The statement comes in the context of a reflection on the challenges that Portugal has faced in recent years.
According to the minister, the Portuguese Government has already faced six events with serious consequences. In 2024, the country was marked by the drought in the Algarve and by rural fires that affected the natural parks.
In 2025, new waves of fires were recorded as well as a blackout that caused significant impacts. For 2026, a storm train and the effects of the war in the Middle East are anticipated.
Maria da Graça Carvalho's statement thus underscores the need to continue strengthening the country's response capacity to large-scale phenomena and unpredictable consequences.
