Portugal's coastline is under mounting pressure from climate change and decades of poorly managed development, according to a new report by Greenpeace. The study, titled "Destruction All Along the Coast – A portrait of a Portuguese coastline at risk," paints a stark picture: rising sea levels, shrinking beaches, and a growing threat to communities and ecosystems from the Algarve to the Minho.
The report comes as Portuguese beachgoers have already noticed the change this summer, with many popular stretches of sand visibly narrower than in previous years. The situation was worsened by a series of winter storms that accelerated erosion. On average, the coastline is retreating between 10 and 20 metres per year, with some areas losing as much as 40 metres, the report warns.
Greenpeace estimates that 40% of Portugal's beaches could vanish by 2100 if current trends continue. The country's 2,500-kilometre coastline, combined with a sea-level rise that is faster than the global average, has made Portugal "the epicentre" of climate change impacts in Europe, the organisation says. More than 100,000 people currently live in coastal areas at risk of flooding.
"We cannot keep waiting for a beach to disappear, for a cliff to collapse or for an infrastructure to be at risk before we act," said Toni Melajoki Roseiro, director of Greenpeace Portugal. "Given all the knowledge already available, political decisions now need to be taken to protect people, nature and a territory that belongs to everyone."
Natural defences under threat
While climate change is often cited as the main driver, the report highlights that urban and tourism expansion, excessive construction in sensitive zones, and the artificialisation of the shoreline have significantly increased risk. These activities have destroyed or degraded natural barriers such as dunes and salt marshes, which are the first line of defence against erosion, flooding and saltwater intrusion.
According to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), more than 25% of the mainland coast is retreating, with some regions losing up to two metres per year. The situation in Cascais, near Lisbon, is particularly alarming, with mean sea level rising by 9.7 centimetres over the past 25 years.
This year's storms exposed the fragility of these systems. Flooding caused by heavy rainfall, rising water levels, and a lack of soil permeability, combined with a shortage of sediment on beaches, led to significant damage. Costa de Lavos beach in Figueira da Foz has retreated 50 metres over the past decade, while Faro beach has lost 25 metres in width since 1950.
Regional hotspots
From north to south, the outlook is bleak. In Espinho, the coastline is retreating by 5.2 metres per year. Viana do Castelo has lost 30% of its beach area since 1990, and Póvoa de Varzim faces a high risk of erosion and flooding. In the central-western region, Aveiro is one of the most critical areas, with projections of up to 40 metres of retreat at Costa Nova over the next two decades. The report also forecasts that 18% of the Mondego estuary could be inundated by 2100.
In the Lisbon area, Costa da Caparica has suffered the most, losing around 200 metres of sand since 1960. Almada is under pressure, with 12% of its urban area at risk of flooding, and parts of Lisbon itself – including Algés, Alcântara and the Baixa district – are hotspots for flooding.
The Alentejo coast, increasingly pressured by tourism and urbanisation, is among the most affected. Up to 50% of Alentejo's beaches could disappear by 2100, and in the Algarve, around 40% of beaches may be lost. The most critical areas include Vilamoura, Quarteira, Vale do Garrão and Praia da Rocha, where cliffs are unstable and at risk of collapse. On the other side of the Algarve, Tavira Island, the Ria Formosa, Barrinha de Alvor and Praia do Ancão are particularly vulnerable ecosystems.
Development as a risk multiplier
Portugal has a robust legal framework for coastal management, including Coastal Zone Plans (POC) that require a terrestrial protection strip of at least 500 metres from the shoreline, extendable to 1,000 metres for important ecosystems. However, enforcement is inconsistent, and coordination between authorities is often lacking.
Greenpeace argues that development along the coast is a "multiplier of critical risks" at a time of profound climate change. The report points to municipalities such as Sesimbra and Grândola, where protective rules have been repeatedly overridden. Projects like Pinhal da Prata, Pinhal do Atlântico and Etosoto in Sesimbra occupy more than 260 hectares in protected areas without adequate environmental assessments.
In Tróia, the "Na Praia" project – a luxury resort with villas, a spa and a heliport on protected coastal dunes – is another example of development overriding environmental safeguards. Such projects not only increase physical risk but also undermine the natural resilience of the coast.
Greenpeace's message is clear: Portugal must act now, not after the next disaster. The report calls for a halt to new construction in high-risk zones, the restoration of natural barriers, and a comprehensive national strategy that prioritises long-term resilience over short-term profit. As the sea continues to advance, the choices made today will determine whether Portugal's iconic beaches survive for future generations.
