Macau, China, March 26, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) president said on Thursday that China’s commitment to energy sustainability is considered a model for Portugal in specific areas.
Speaking to Lusa in Macau, José Pimenta Machado emphasised the urgent need for adaptation and for viewing Chinese technology as an ally, after the first few months of 2026 were marked by “unprecedented” weather events in Portugal that put the entire country on high alert.
According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency, January and February 2026 broke rainfall records of the last 47 years across the Iberian Peninsula.
Pimenta Machado said that he had never seen a situation comparable to this year’s, noting that the entire country had been under a flood alert. He further added that unlike previous years, these events were no longer localised but had affected Portugal from north to south and west to east.
The minister of the environment said on Wednesday that climate change adaptation is the country's "greatest challenge," noting that climate-driven crises highlight the vital importance of early-warning systems.
Echoing the minister’s position, Machado gave several examples of measures to be taken, such as withholding authorisation for new construction in high-risk areas, saying that more than 100,000 people in Portugal currently live in flood-prone areas, occupying space that rightfully belongs to rivers.
Beyond river management, the coastline, stretching approximately 1,000 kilometres between Caminha and Vila Real de Santo António, remains a primary concern, with 20% of its length affected by erosion.
Attending the 2026 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), APA’s president identified China as a strategic partner in decarbonisation, viewing the country’s commitment to sustainability as exemplary in certain fields, despite being the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Machado acknowledged that there was a very clear path of investment in renewables, specifically wind, solar and the reduction of greenhouse gases, highlighting the electric vehicle industry, saying it offered highly competitive prices from a technological standpoint and could be crucial in reducing emissions in Portugal.
The Chinese manufacturer BYD registered 6,059 passenger cars in Portugal in 2025, an increase of 94.1% compared to 2024 (the brand's first full year in the country), ending the year with a 2.7% market share.
Chinese authorities have warned that their own country is extremely vulnerable to climate impacts, recording record levels of warming and sea-level rises, with average annual temperatures and coastal levels reaching their highest levels in 2024.
China maintains its targets to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
The new five-year plan (2026–2030), approved this month, focusses on "boosting green and low-carbon development, promoting energy transition”.
NCM/MYAL // AYLS
Lusa
