Lisbon, June 17, 2026 (Lusa) - The prime minister announced on Wednesday that the Portuguese government will approve the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change at Thursday's cabinet meeting, emphasising that the government is committed to addressing this issue.

The announcement was made by Luís Montenegro during the fortnightly debate in parliament, in response to People-Animals-Nature Party spokesperson Inês de Sousa Real, who accused the government of keeping Portugal “on the sidelines” in the fight against climate change and of leaving the law “on the back burner”.

“Tomorrow, at the Cabinet meeting, we will approve the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change,” he said, after assuring that this is an issue to which the government is committed.

The prime minister added that this decision follows on from a “strategy that combines water policy with forestry policy, and with policy on land use and planning”.

Montenegro also argued for the need for preventive measures, such as support for the fire service, the health sector and, in specific circumstances, animal welfare.

In her speech, Inês de Sousa Real had criticised the government’s actions in various areas, ranging from housing to the labour bill, before turning her attention to the effects of wildfires and climate change.

Sousa Real also referred to the need to establish the right to a day of mourning following the death of a pet, an issue to which the head of government responded by stating that the matter deserves respect, but also a “very thorough assessment”.

“I have a great deal of respect for this because, for personal reasons, I know many people who are genuinely deeply affected by the loss of a pet. That must be respected. But we will still need to carry out a much more in-depth assessment before we can reach a definitive conclusion; we will certainly do so, I can assure you of that,” he emphasised.

TS/AYLS // AYLS

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