The principal aim of the OECD Environmental Performance Review (EPR) programme is to help member and selected partner countries improve their individual and collective performance in environmental management by:
helping countries assess progress in achieving their environmental goals
promoting continuous policy dialogue and peer learning
stimulating greater accountability from governments towards each other and public opinion.
This is the fourth EPR of Portugal. It examines the country’s environmental performance since the previous review in 2011. Progress in achieving domestic objectives and international commitments provides the basis for assessing Portugal’s environmental performance. Such objectives and commitments may be broad aims, qualitative goals or quantitative targets. A distinction is made between intentions, actions and results. Assessment of environmental performance is also placed within the context of Portugal’s historical environmental record, present state of the environment, physical endowment in natural resources, economic conditions and demographic trends.
The OECD is grateful to Portugal’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Action for providing information and comments, organising the review mission (16-18 May 2022) and virtual policy mission (19 October 2022), as well as for facilitating contacts inside and outside government institutions.
Thanks are also due to the representatives of the two examining countries, Kendal Blanco Salas (Costa Rica) and Eric De Brabanter (Luxembourg), for participating in the review.
The authors of this report are Hélène Blake, Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras and Frédérique Zegel of the OECD Environment Directorate, under the co-ordination of Frédérique Zegel. Nathalie Girouard and Frédérique Zegel provided oversight and guidance. Maria Adelaida Rojas Lleras and Carla Bertuzzi provided statistical support, while Lydia Servant provided administrative support. Mark Foss copy‑edited the report. Natasha Cline-Thomas supported communications activities. Preparation of this report also benefited from inputs and comments from Marta Arbinolo, Ivana Capozza, Kathleen Dominique, Catherine Gamper, Nikki Kergozou and Julia Wanjiru of the OECD Secretariat, as well as Sylvia Beyer of the International Energy Agency.
The OECD Working Party on Environmental Performance discussed the Environmental Performance Review of Portugal at its meeting on 6 December 2022 and approved the Assessment and Recommendations.