Portugal Heatwave Hits 42°C: What Now? Climate Resilience, Renewables & Extreme Weather | Good Morning Portugal!

Climate Change in Portugal (2026): El Niño, Storm Kristin, and Building Local ResilienceIn a 2026 conversation based in Portugal, Stewart and Carl discuss human-induced climate change, how the topic has become politically polarizing, and why they look to climate science - especially IPCC reports - while acknowledging public distrust of “science.”They compare their environmental backgrounds and focus on practical implications of worsening extremes, referencing Storm Kristin (power and internet outages, water issues) and an incoming heat spike into the 40s. Stuart explains weather vs climate, outlines how El Niño works and why its current intensity is unprecedented, and links rising greenhouse gases to increasing uncertainty and extremes affecting Portugal (including drought risk in the south).They emphasize balancing local action with political engagement, suggesting resilience measures like solar lights, backup generators, water storage, community networks, and alternative communications (Meshtastic), while noting Portugal’s renewable progress and ongoing energy pricing/regulation issues.00:00 Naming Climate Change00:09 Early Activism Roots01:53 Friends of the Earth Era03:11 Portugal Extremes Today05:00 Host Climate Journey06:19 Weather Versus Climate08:11 Trust and the IPCC10:01 El Nino Explained12:03 Greenhouse Gas Basics13:23 Local Resilience Actions13:50 Pragmatic Not Evangelical15:49 China and Renewables Shift17:26 Storm Kristen Lessons18:24 Backup Power Basics18:55 Water and Community Barter19:40 Off Grid Communications20:15 Blackouts as Lessons22:20 Climate Upsides and Tradeoffs23:29 Post Industrial Disruption24:45 Lifestyle Change Reality Check26:54 Portugal Renewable Potential29:12 Politics Prices and Regulation32:05 Wrap Up and Community Plug33:59 Portuguese A Team OutroBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-morning-portugal-podcast-with-carl-munson--2903992/support.Get help moving to and living in Portugal