An opinion article by Ana Mesquita, landscape architect, environmental consultant, managing partner at Wise Up and Board Member of the Associação Nacional de Coberturas Verdes (ANCV), was recently published in the newspaper Público, entitled “Adapting Portugal to the climate that has already arrived”.

In the article, Ana Mesquita highlights the growing evidence of climate change impacts in Portugal, pointing to recent flooding events as clear signs of the intensification of extreme weather phenomena. Ana Mesquita emphasizes that these events expose structural vulnerabilities in the territory, particularly related to land use, water management and urban planning.

Portugal is often identified as one of the European countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing challenges such as prolonged droughts, recurrent wildfires, intense rainfall, coastal erosion and increasing pressure on water resources. In this context, Ana Mesquita calls for the urgent strengthening of adaptation strategies, with a focus on more consistent public policies and an integrated vision for territorial planning.

One of the central points of the article is the role of ecosystem services, described by Ana Mesquita as measurable ecological functions — such as water cycle regulation, carbon sequestration and climate regulation — which have a tangible economic value. These services contribute to reducing costs associated with infrastructure, energy, public health and climate impact mitigation.

Despite some progress, Ana Mesquita notes that the implementation of these approaches still falls short of the necessary scale. Ana Mesquita highlights, in particular, the importance of recognising nature as a functional and strategic infrastructure with real economic value, as well as the need for greater continuity in public policies and long-term territorial planning.

More information: Adaptar Portugal ao clima que já chegou | Opinião | PÚBLICO