Jurisdiction of the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning

The Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning and is the government department whose mission it is to define, implement and coordinate policy for the environment, regional planning and cities.

In carrying out its mission, the duties of the Ministry for Environment, and Spatial Planning are:

• a) To promote programmes, projects, measures and actions that aim to ensure the preservation of natural heritage, the well-being and workings of eco-systems, to maintain and encourage biodiversity, nature conservation and the protection and recognition of the importance of the countryside;
• b) To ensure that monitoring and assessment systems work, as well as guaranteeing the dissemination of information regarding the state of the environment, regional planning and development in the public domain;
• c) To promote national involvement in solving environmental problems of international interest and ensure the application of international conventions and agreements, as well as European Union legislation and policy. To represent the PortugueseState in international bodies and committees and promote international technical cooperation in the respective areas of responsibility;
• d) To ensure the integrated planning and management of national water resources and ensure the protection of the water domain, guaranteeing a quality water supply service to appropriate levels, for human consumption, residual water drainage and pollution control in the water environment;
• e) To promote a sustainable policy of waste management via the support, activation, accompaniment and monitoring of measures of prevention, reutilisation and investment and subsequent treatment and disposal  and promote a policy of recuperation and improvement of soils and other contaminated areas, in conjunction with other public bodies with responsibilities in this area;
• f) To promote and coordinate the development of policy, programmes and measures for the control and reduction of greenhouse gases, encouraging national involvement in the carbon market and the development of flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol;
• g) To promote an air quality management policy and the creation and implementation of noise prevention and control measures, with the aim of protecting public health and quality of life of the population;
• h) To stimulate the improvement of environmental performance of economic agents and promote prevention, identification and systematic assessment measures of the impact of human activity upon the environment, of natural risks and risks engendered by anthropogenic activity, as well as ensuring the integrated prevention and control of pollution and the promotion of environmental education as a strategic vehicle to inform citizens and increase awareness;
• i) To guarantee the appropriate implementation of the laws and other instruments of environmental policy, such as environmental audits, controls and inspection and checks;