AR YOU FEELING TOO HOT YET?

For a few moments, let’s forget about the horrendous wars dominating the news headlines and focus on climate change, which poses one of the most catastrophic dangers to human existence.

Unprecedented heat has been experienced this May in Portugal and elsewhere around the world. The Algarve, for example, has recorded highs of over 35 degrees Celsius—temperatures previously confined to July and August.

Temperatures this summer are predicted to break all records, further increasing the already extreme risks of wildfires, environmental devastation and community destruction.

The World Meteorological Organisation warned this week that global temperatures are expected to continue reaching record levels by the end of this decade, with a 70% chance that average global warming between this year and 2029 will exceed the critical 1.5 degrees set in the Paris Agreement. The hope then, as now, is to keep post-industrial temperatures below the full emergency threshold of 2.0 degrees.

This all depends on close international cooperation and radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is not happening. There is talk, but still nowhere near enough action.

What is especially alarming is how little is being done by the world’s most powerful leaders. President Donald Trump—who this week described President Vladimir Putin as “crazy”—remains in denial about global warming. The United States, Russia and China are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Sky News broadcast an important report this week presenting global warming in a particularly troubling light. Russia is taking advantage of the melting North Polar ice sheet to expand its naval operations and further threaten the Western world.

When not focused on brutal wars, many other political leaders remain preoccupied with domestic issues, such as immigration, the rising cost of living, medical inadequacies and housing shortages.

But let’s not forget climate change.

Written by Len Port,

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

VULNERABILITY OF THE FORESTS

The Government Environment Fund has just announced it will invest another €21.9 million in protecting Portugal’s forests, which are so vulnerable to wildfires. This is just part of the €6.4 billion it has vowed to invest by 2050.

 

The largest amount from the new fund - more than €15 million .- will be spent on supporting fire ighting teams. This comes at a time when landowners by law must clear all low-lying vegetation that could be a fire hazard. This must be done by the last day of May. It has been extended in some areas from the last day of April.

 

It applies to land within 50 metres of homes and within 100 metres of villages. Those unable to clear their land can apply for help at their own cost from  their local council . They need to be quick, because those who do not go by the rules could receive fines of up to. €10,000 for individuals and €120,000 for businesses.

 

Other than farmed, particularly in the Algarve, has been totally covered with beautiful flowers and other plants as a result of the plentiful rains during winter and spring, but sadly, for country dwellers, butterflies and bees, much now has been wiped out because of the land clearance obligation.

 

Proportionally, Portugal has a larger area of woodland than any other country in the European Union. It occupies 35% of the country. By implementing its 2050 plan, the government, although still in a fragile mode, seeks to not only prevent future wildfire destruction, but also recover burnt land. Greater incentives to manage forests and increase the productivity of the forestry sector are envisaged.

 

The Navigator Company in Portugal, which concentrates on pulp and paper production, has forestry holdings in which it focuses on mitigating risks of wildfires and supporting fire fighter.

“Defending our woodlands against fire is one of the company’s main priorities. This is clearly demonstrated in a range of projects, which already represent investment in access of three million euros a year.

 

An unprecedentedly hot summer is forecast due to climate change. High spring temperatures are already clearly indicating the likelihood of summer extremes that will enforce the danger of wildfires.

 

The Copernicus Climate Service expects this to be one of the three hottest summers on record globally. This is despite the presence of a La Nina event that typically has a cooling effect.

 

Just a last word, especially for visitors You must be extremely careful with cigarette butts, and never have any barbecues or other reasons for lighting a fire in other than the safest places.

 

Written by Len Port

Edited by Catriona Anderson

VICTORY FOR CENTRE-RIGHT

 

The centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Luís Montenegro, won the most votes in Sunday’s parliamentary election, though not enough to form a stable government.

 

The centre-left Socialist Party (PS), led by Pedro Nuno Santos, finished second with 23%, just ahead of the far-right Chega party, led by Andre Ventura, which garnered a surprising 22.56%.

 

Chega emerged as the leading party in the Algarve and elsewhere across southern Portugal. It remains to be seen whether the Socialists will join the AD again in a coalition government, but neither of the centrist parties is likely to align with the populist right.

 

All 230 seats in the Assembly of the Republic were contested. The PS and Chega each secured 58 seats.

 

Centrist parties have dominated Portuguese politics since the 1974 revolution, which dramatically replaced the dictatorship with democracy. However, instability has been the norm for the past decade. The cost of living, housing shortages, and immigration are the main concerns among voters today. Another key issue is a lack of confidence in politicians.

 

There have been three governments in the past three years, each brought down by scandal and necessitating another snap election.

 

Prime Minister Montenegro was sworn in just over a year ago. His party formed a coalition with the PS Social Democrats and the CSD People’s Party. This was not expected to last long — and it didn’t.

 

Allegations against Prime Minister Montenegro concerning a conflict of interest involving his family’s business sparked a scandal. Montenegro denied the claims but lost a parliamentary confidence vote and was obliged to call another snap election. A previous scandal had brought down the Socialist government of António Costa.

 

These events have fuelled widespread public dissatisfaction with the ruling political class.

 

More than 10,850,000 Portuguese citizens were registered to vote in Sunday’s ballot, though a low turnout was expected.

 

Despite the fragility of recent governments, Portugal has outperformed most European countries in economic growth, run budget surpluses, and reduced its debt under both centre-left and centre-right administrations.

 

The future of major projects — such as lithium mining and the long-discussed privatisation of the TAP airline — could face further delays.

 

In foreign policy, the new government is expected to continue condemning Israel’s brutality in Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Written by Len Port.

Edited by Catriona Anderson.

 

SNAP ELECTION EXPECTATIONS

Although somewhat overshadowed this week by the election of a new pope in Rome, Portugal’s politicians are campaigning for votes in the national election taking place on Sunday, 18 May.

There is an inevitability in the national election in that most votes will go to the two centrist parties: the centre-right AD Democratic Alliance, headed by the PSD Social Democrats, and the centre-left PS Socialists.

The centrists have dominated Portuguese politics since the 1974 revolution that replaced dictatorship with democracy.

Opinion polls currently suggest the centre-right is ahead by almost six points, about 33% to 27%. The far-right Chega Party trails at a little over 17%.

The present minority government, led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, was sworn in just over a year ago. It formed a coalition with the PSD Social Democrats and the CDS People’s Party. This coalition was not expected to last long.

Allegations against Prime Minister Montenegro about a conflict of interest involving his family’s business sparked a scandal. Montenegro denied the allegations but lost a parliamentary confidence vote and was obliged to call a snap election. It is the third snap election in recent years because of corruption scandals. The most recent one brought down the Socialist government of António Costa.

These events have fuelled much public dissatisfaction with the political class. A total of more than 10,850,000 are registered to take part in next Sunday’s ballot, but a low turnout would not be surprising.

Criticism by the present government of Israel’s worsening war in Gaza, and its strong appeal to India and Pakistan to reduce tensions and quickly enter into a process of dialogue, may influence a number of voters next week.

The leader of the Socialists, Pedro Nuno Santos, said this week he will seek “a solution for political stability in Portugal.”

A Portuguese Gypsy community this week accused the leader of the right-wing Chega Party of being “racist”, and appealed to him to stop encouraging hatred against them. Chega’s leader, André Ventura, responded by saying, “they have to work and comply with the rules.”