Green production is only at its very early stages in Portugal.
As of August 2024, there were no mandatory requirements tied to funding, nor widespread awareness or interest in adopting a more sustainable approach to film production.
Portugal Film Commission has been the most proactive player, releasing a Best Practices Guide, recently updated. In 2021, the commission organized a series of online workshops and initiated the training of green consultants, which has since become an established practice.
Interest in sustainable practices has grown, especially since certified green consultants can now earn productions extra points for cash rebates or refunds.
Many Portuguese productions seek international co-productions for better budgets, increasing the demand for green consultants to meet funding requirements for sustainability plans.
However, green production is often seen as too expensive, especially by smaller companies with tight budgets. Larger companies, despite reporting obligations, have also been slow to adopt sustainable methods.
Portugal has key environmental laws, including:
Social rules
The 2024 cash rebate promotes gender equality, awarding two points for projects led by female directors.
The Portuguese Film Institute (ICA) aims to enhance diversity across ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, and disability in its 2024–2028 strategy.
Harassment (sexual or moral) is prohibited under Article 29 of the Labour Code.
A 2023 study on gender equality in Portuguese cinema by the Portuguese Association of Female Workers in Moving Images (MUTIM) provides further insights.
In 2024, both the cash rebate and cash refund introduced additional points for sustainability plans created by certified green consultants.
A second point is awarded for the cash refund if an audit verifies the implementation of green measures.
However, the Portuguese Film Institute (ICA) has not yet included any funding conditions tied to sustainability.
Portugal Film Commission: Provides a Best Practice Guide, recently updated, and a directory of green consultants.
Green Consultants’ Association (“Repensar”): Offers resources for sustainability in production.
The Council for Climate Action (Agência para o Clima, APC), launched in January 2025, centralizes climate transition efforts in Portugal, separate from environmental issues. It develops policies for mitigation, adaptation, and decarbonization while managing key national and international climate funds, including the Environmental Fund, EEA Grants, the Social Climate Fund, the Modernisation Fund, and the Blue Fund. The APC also inherits climate-related responsibilities from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and oversees the Voluntary Carbon Market.
Main broadcasters must comply with CSR reporting, but sustainable production methods are not widely applied. Unions are small and lack influence, showing little interest in sustainability. However, the Portuguese Association of Independent TV Production Companies (APIT) is actively promoting the topic.
Availability varies by location and is easier in cities. Although grid connections are expected within 15 days, delays up to 30 days are common. Connections are feasible only when locations are confirmed well in advance.
To order a grid connection, these steps must be followed.
Local film commissions in Lisbon and Porto offer protocols to expedite the process.
Train
Portugal’s train network is limited, leaving some regions without service. The main route runs North-South (Braga-Porto-Lisbon-Faro) with a fast connection (Alfa Pendular) and affordable tickets.
Future plans include a high-speed Lisbon-Porto line and improved links to Spain.
However, reliance on trains for productions is challenging without network expansion and electrification.
Electric cars
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more available through rental companies but remain limited. Charging on the street is expensive unless private chargers are provided.
In 2024, Portugal has 5,746 charging stations, with most located in Lisbon and Porto. Rural areas have far fewer options.
Find charging stations here: E Network or Electromaps
From 2024, bio-waste separation will be implemented (not yet available everywhere), and municipalities must develop and operate a selective collection network for three new fractions of urban waste (generated by households, shops, workplaces, and public institutions): textiles, small amounts of hazardous waste, furniture, and other bulky waste.
Specific containers for electronic waste, batteries, and cork exist but are less common.
Construction debris and hazardous waste follow specific regulations.
Currently, no directory of specialized green service providers exists, reflecting the limited availability of these services.
CALCULATORS : there is no specific tool for Portugal, however green consultants are trained to use Carbon’Clap (free international carbon calculator powered by Ecoprod)
TRAININGS
There is one available training program to train green consultants for production, it is based on Germany’s “Hochschule der Medien”, Stuttgart.
Country’s decarbonization strategy
Portugal’s Basic Climate Law (Law No. 98/2021) recognizes the climate emergency. However, the Council for Climate Action, mandated by this law, has yet to be established.
A carbon budget is supposed to be elaborated, but has not yet seen the light of day.
The National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 (PNEC) targets:
The law also promotes the circular economy as a fundamental axis of decarbonisation.
The National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (ENAAC) outlines solutions for sectors like agriculture, energy, biodiversity, forest, health, transport, communication and coastal zones to adapt to climate change effects.
This factsheet was produced by Dörte Schneider Garcia, green consultant in Portugal.
