Portugal's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Portugal Portuguese Republic [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	23rd best
Capital	Lisbon
Land Area	91 470km21
Location	Europe
Population	10.3m2
Life Expectancy	81.04yrs (2017)3
GNI	$33 155 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	PT, PRT, 6205
Internet Domain	.pt6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+3518

Portugal is 22nd in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Portugal comes in the best 20 for its score on the Green Future Index₉ (but bad for Europe). It does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance₁₀, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₁, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, energy to GDP efficiency₁₂ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₁₃. Portugal doesn't do so well in other areas. Portugal sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₄ (amongst the highest in Europe).

1. Portugal's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Portugal's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
4	Portugal	58.0
5	Germany	58.2
6	Spain	59.5
7	Austria	59.6
8	Greece	61.4
9	Italy	63.1
10	Ireland	63.1
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Hungary	65.8
13	Norway	66.9
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
19	Japan	57.4
20	Uganda	57.8
21	Kenya	57.9
22	Portugal	58.0
23	Mauritius	58.1
24	Germany	58.2
25	Ghana	58.6
26	Thailand	59.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better13
Pos.		Total13
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
71	Austria	1.6%
72	Czechia	1.5%
73	Slovakia	1.3%
74	Portugal	1.0%
75	Micronesia	0.9%
76	Iraq	0.9%
77	Russia	0.7%
78	French Polynesia	0.6%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Portugal ranks 74th in the world with regard to its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_16,17. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₈. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_19,17, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_20,21. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_22,20. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₃, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₄. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₅.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₇; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₁₃. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₁₃.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

Averages by decade for Portugal (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Portugal:	-0.9%	1.8%
World Rank:	154th	⇡  48th
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better10
Pos.		201810
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
23	Taiwan	72.8
24	Cyprus	72.6
25	Canada	72.2
26	Portugal	71.9
27	USA	71.2
28	Slovakia	70.6
29	Lithuania	69.3
30=	Bulgaria	67.9
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

With respect to its environmental performance, Portugal is positioned 26th in the world.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better12
Pos.		2022 Avg12
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
64	Israel	0.94
65	Djibouti	0.94
66	France	0.95
67	Portugal	0.95
68	Uruguay	0.96
69	Nicaragua	0.96
70	Zambia	0.97
71	Equatorial Guinea	0.98
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

Portugal is positioned 67th in the world regarding energy to GDP efficiency.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Portugal (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Portugal:	0.88	1.04	1.11	1.23	1.17	1.11
World Rank:	14th	⇡  13th	⇣  62nd	⇣  70th	⇣  72nd	⇣  76th
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
32	Venezuela	70%
33	Kazakhstan	70%
34	Jordan	69%
35	Portugal	69%
36	Costa Rica	69%
37	Mexico	69%
38	Uzbekistan	69%
39	India	69%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Portugal comes 35th in the world with regard to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Portugal was amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer in 1988 whilst most others delayed until subsequent years.

“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 [which] dedicates 41.2% of total funding to the climate transition.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₆

Averages by decade for Portugal (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Portugal:	0%	64%	67%	86%	99%
World Rank:	52nd	⇡  17th	⇣  26th	⇣  44th	⇡  30th
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better11
Pos.		2011 %11
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
28	Morocco	60.0%
29	Malta	57.3%
30	Ecuador	57.2%
31	Portugal	55.8%
32	Hong Kong	54.8%
33	Lebanon	54.3%
34	Nepal	52.8%
35	Chad	52.8%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Portugal comes 31st in the world when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population. In a 2023 survey, only 43% of the Portuguese identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world₂₆. "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"₂₆.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better14
Pos.		2021 kg14
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
168	Taiwan	89.8
169	Croatia	90.8
170	French Polynesia	92.5
171	Portugal	94.6
172	St Kitts & Nevis	96.6
173	Chile	97.8
174	Brazil	98.8
175	Spain	100.3
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

In terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person, Portugal is positioned 15th-worst in the world (amongst the highest in Europe).

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_27,28,29. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₀. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_27,31,32. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._27,31. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₂. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₂. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₃ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Portugal was nearly double the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment, although the rate during that decade was reducing.₁₄

On average throughout the 2010s, Portugal's rate was 94.1.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better9
Pos.		2023 Score9
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
15=	Canada	5.7
16	Luxembourg	5.6
17	Greece	5.6
18	Portugal	5.5
19	USA	5.4
20=	Switzerland	5.4
20=	Poland	5.4
22	Austria	5.4
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

But bad for Europe regarding its score on the Green Future Index, Portugal ranks 18th-best in the world.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₄.