Central level

The central government is responsible for:

• Preventing and controlling pollution and its effects as well as the harmful forms of erosion;
• Conducting and promoting town and country planning with a view to the correct location of activities, balanced social and economic development and the enhancement of the landscape;
• Creating and developing natural and recreational reserves and parks and classifying and protecting landscapes and areas;
• Promoting the rational use of natural resources;
• Promoting environmental education and respect for environmental values, and
• Promoting the environmental quality of rural settlements and urban life in cooperation with local authorities.
  

Law No. 19/2014 on Environmental Policy introduced the following changes/principles:

• Sustainable development, which requires the satisfaction of present needs without compromising those of future generations and which requires the preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage; planning for the long-term production capacity of ecosystems; balanced and rational planning of the territory for the purpose of overcoming regional disparities; promotion of territorial cohesion and sustainable production and consumption of energy; and preservation of the biodiversity, biological and climate balance, and geological stability that harmonizes human life and the environment (id. art. 3(a));
• Intra- and inter-generational responsibility
• Adoption of proactive measures in order to remedy or alleviate, at the source, adverse impacts on the environment,
• Adopt further measures in Accountability
• Accountability of all persons who, directly or indirectly, intentionally or negligently, cause damage or pose a threat to the environment. It is the duty of the state to apply penalties, including the possibility of requiring payment for restitution under the law (id. art. 3(f));
• Assignment of responsibility to whoever causes damage to the environment for restoration of the environment to its original condition as it stood prior to the harmful event (id. art. 3(g)).

Responsible ministries/bodies

Ministry of Environment and Energy Transition

Regional level

The Azores:

• The protection of the environment;
• The conservation and protection of classified and protected areas;
• Regional ecological reserve;
• Natural resources;
• Environmental impact assessment, and
• Water supply.
  

Madeira:

• Forests, parks and nature reserves;
• Environmental protection and ecological balance, and
• Protection of nature and natural resources.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Regional Authorities of Azores and Madeira

Local level

Municipalities are responsible for:

• Participating in the management of air quality;
• The installation and maintenance of local networks for monitoring air quality;
• The control of gas emissions of vehicles;
• Proposing the creation of protected areas at national, regional or local level;
• Water supply systems;
• The maintenance and rehabilitation of the water network, and
• The management and monitoring of the sanitation and good maintenance of beaches and bathing areas.
  
  

Intermunicipal entities are responsible for:

• Same areas, under agreement with the municipalities

Responsible ministries/bodies

Municipalities

Sources

Lei No. 19/2014

Articles 9 and 66 of the Constitution

New Portuguese Environment Policy, Global Legal Monitor, Guide