Urban Environmental Sustainability

Over the past ten years, Lisbon has led a comprehensive set of policies regarding climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation, to position the city as a leading capital in this debate.

City policies across all areas include future-proofing the city and adapting to climate change. This includes treating and re-using waste water; ensuring one of the lowest levels of water leakage in the world; increasing pedestrianisation; reducing car usage; increasing public green spaces; installing green corridors and planting tens of thousands of trees to cool the city and manage flooding; promoting eco-housing renovation or new build projects for socially challenged communities; and engaging citizens in green community projects.

The city has set itself ambitious targets and is involved in establishing agreements for the next steps of climate policy. This includes actively participating in the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy; signing the Compact of Mayors; and being an active member of C40 Cities, ICLEI, and Eurocities, amongst other urban collaboration initiatives.

Lisbon faces many potential climate change scenarios

17-38 cm sea level rise by 2050

29% decrease in rainfall by 2100

1-4°C increase in average annual temperature by 2100

Increase in frequency and intensity of flash floods and windy storms