The Portuguese Parliament recently approved a New Base Regulations of the Environment, through the Law number 19/2014, of April 14.

The new law repealed Law number 11/87 of 7 April, which was the first base regulations of the environment in Portugal. It is a smaller law compared to the previous law which aims to be clearer and more updated especially in view of the new environmental challenges of the present and future.

New concepts and current environmental concerns have now been introduced. Some examples include the concern with climate changes, sustainability, ecological footprint (between and within generations) and green taxation, with highlight to the polluter-pays and the user-pays principles.

The aim is to promote the enforcement of environmental rights through the defense of a sustainable development, contributing to the development of a "green economy", rational and efficient use of natural resources.

This will, hopefully, ensure the well-being and progressive improvement of the quality of life, establishing a genuine right to environmental citizenship. This will be ensured through an environmental policy based on mechanisms of environmental information, economic and financial planning, environmental assessment, of authorization or environmental licensing and control, supervision and inspection.

The new Base Regulations of the Environment entered into force on April 19, 2014.