We recently shared an inspiring article about a group of young Portuguese activists taking 33 countries to court over climate change inaction. Today we also get to share that the country has canceled its last two remaining fossil fuel contracts, meaning Portugal is no longer extracting fossil fuels on its soil.
Environmentalists have fought for years to end fossil fuel extraction in Portugal. In 2015, the country had 15 active contracts, but after pressure from the public and environmental organizations like Climáximo, this number dwindled to just two located in Central Portugal which were terminated this summer.
Unfortunately, this does not mean the country is fossil fuel-free. Although 76 percent of the country’s electricity came from renewable energy sources last year, Portugal still gets about 44 percent of its energy from non-renewable sources.
Nonetheless, this is a big step towards boosting renewable energy and contributes to Portugal’s goal of being entirely powered by renewables by 2040.
