INSIDE OTWO | APRIL 2026
INSIDE OTWO | APRIL 2026
Growing concern over drought and water management in southern Portugal
Another of the key news topics in March has been the ongoing drought affecting southern regions, particularly the Algarve and Alentejo. Water reserves remain below optimal levels, prompting authorities to strengthen restrictions on water use, impacting both urban consumption and agricultural activity.
This situation has intensified debate over the sustainability of current tourism and agricultural models in these areas, which are highly dependent on water resources. Experts and policymakers agree on the need for medium- and long-term strategies focused on more efficient water management, resource reuse, and adaptation to increasingly extreme climate conditions.
Taken together, these developments highlight a structural tension in Portugal’ s environmental policy: advancing toward a cleaner energy model while confronting the physical limits of the territory in a context of accelerating climate change.