In a statement, the ministry explains that the coastal protection work involves replacing one million cubic meters of sand on the beaches of Costa and S. João da Caparica, in Almada, in the district of Setúbal, and has an execution period of 60 days.

The intervention, represents a total investment of almost 10.6 million euros, financed by European funds — through the Thematic Programme for Climate Action and Sustainability (PACS) — and by the Lisbon Port Administration's own funds.

The procedure is promoted by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and the Administration of the Port of Lisbon, S.A.

“This operation aims to protect people and property by reinforcing the stability of the coastline, reducing vulnerability to coastal overtopping and flooding, and protecting existing infrastructure and adjacent works,” explains the ministry.

Under current legislation, the intervention is exempt from environmental impact assessment and includes a systematic technical monitoring and follow-up plan, ensuring the effectiveness and rigor of the operation.

For the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, "this intervention is a clear example of preventive and structured action" to protect the territory from the impacts of climate change.

“Replacing sand on the beaches of Costa da Caparica and S. João da Caparica represents not only an investment in the safety of the population and the protection of coastal infrastructure, but also a long-term environmental improvement. This is a priority for the Government: to act based on technical knowledge, planning and using European funds to ensure greater resilience to our coastal areas”, concludes Maria da Graça Carvalho, in a statement.

At the beginning of January this year, the government, through the Ministry of the Environment, had already announced that it would invest 20.2 million euros (ME) in priority works to protect the coast, namely to stabilise cliffs, protect coastal infrastructure and reinforce the most vulnerable beaches.