Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)

About us

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) is a public institute, within the scope of the Portuguese Environment and Climate Action Ministry.

Our mission is to propose, develop and monitor public policies for the environment and sustainable development, in an integrated and participated manner, and in close cooperation with other sectoral policies and public and private entities.
APA counts nowadays with more than 800 highly skilled employees and consultants.

Areas of Intervention

Air
Water
Waste
Climate change
Chemicals
Noise
Protection of ozone layer
Genetic Modified Organisms
Sustainable development
Citizen participation
Environmental assessments
Environmental economics and green growth
Environmental risks

Strategic goals

To increase the level of protection, recovery and enhancement of ecosystem
To increase the level of protection of people and goods in risk situation
To improve the knowledge and information about the environment
To reinforce public participation and to ensure the involvement of the institutions
To guarantee the excellence of performing in all assignments

Organizational chart

National Infrastructures

National Air Quality Reference Laboratory (Member of Network of Air Quality Reference Laboratories – AQUILA)
Environmental Reference Laboratory
Water Resources Monitoring Networks
Air Quality Network
National Radiological Early Warning Network

APA in the international fora

APA works in close cooperation with the European Environment Agency, mainly through the EIONET network, for which it is the National Focal Point (NFP). As a NFP, APA is responsible for developing and maintaining a national network of reference organisations and experts working and researching environment and sustainable development issues, identifying national sources of information, collecting data and information resulting from monitoring activities and, finally, supporting the EEA in communicating its activities in Portugal.