Ministry of the Environment (Portugal)

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy (Portuguese: Ministério do Ambiente e Energia) is a Portuguese government ministry. The Ministry was formed in 2013 by narrowing the scope of the Ministry of Agriculture.^[2]

Ministry of the Environment and Energy

Ministério do Ambiente e Energia
Ministry overview
Jurisdiction	Government of Portugal
Minister responsible	Graça Carvalho[1], Minister of the Environment and Energy

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is a public institute that operates within the scope of the Ministry and works on environmental policy.^[3]

Name changes

From 2013 - 2018, the department was entitled Minister of the Environment, Territorial Planning and Energy, it was then renamed to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Transition.^[4] In 2023 the ministry was renamed from Ministry of Environment and Climate Action to the Ministry of Environment and Energy.^[5]

Leadership

From its founding in 2013 until 2015, Jorge Moreira da Silva was the Minister of the Environment, Territorial Planning and Energy. João Pedro Matos Fernandes served as minister from 2015 to 2022. Duarte Cordeiro was minister from March 2022 to April 2024.^[6] Graça Carvalho was appointed minister in April 2024.

Controversies

Further information: Operation Influencer

The Ministry of Environment was the site of raids during the probe into corruption on the part of then Prime Minister Antonio Costa. Costa's premiership stands accused of corruption and malfeasance regarding various deals for lithium mines, a hydrogen production plant, and a data center.^[7] President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) Nuno Lacasta was one of the suspects on warrants related to the probe.^[8]

In 2024, Lisbon climate activists occupied the Ministry of Environment, attaching themselves to railings and blocking access to workers. Their demands included the cessation of fossil fuel use by 2030.^[9]

References

1. Santos, Bruno G. (3 April 2024). "New Government for Portugal". The Portugal News.
2. "Portugal president approves reshuffle, ending government rift". Reuters. 23 July 2013.
3. "About Us".
4. "João Pedro Matos Fernandes". portugal.gov.pt.
5. Moutinho, Vera (22 April 2024). "Far right's rise in Portugal could threaten ambitious climate action".
6. "Duarte Cordeiro: Minister of Environment and Climate Action". portugal.gov.pt.
7. Associate Press (7 November 2023). "Portuguese police arrest prime minister's chief of staff in widespread corruption probe".
8. Todorovic, Igor (December 8, 2023). "Portuguese Prime Minister Costa steps down amid lithium, hydrogen corruption scandal". Balkan Green Energy News.
9. Donn, Natasha. "Climate Activists occupy Ministry of Environment". Portugal Resident }date=19 April 2024.