Climate Change in Portugal (2026): El Niño, Storm Kristin, and Building Local Resilience
In 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 Change
00:09 Early Activism Roots
01:53 Friends of the Earth Era
03:11 Portugal Extremes Today
05:00 Host Climate Journey
06:19 Weather Versus Climate
08:11 Trust and the IPCC
10:01 El Nino Explained
12:03 Greenhouse Gas Basics
13:23 Local Resilience Actions
13:50 Pragmatic Not Evangelical
15:49 China and Renewables Shift
17:26 Storm Kristen Lessons
18:24 Backup Power Basics
18:55 Water and Community Barter
19:40 Off Grid Communications
20:15 Blackouts as Lessons
22:20 Climate Upsides and Tradeoffs
23:29 Post Industrial Disruption
24:45 Lifestyle Change Reality Check
26:54 Portugal Renewable Potential
29:12 Politics Prices and Regulation
32:05 Wrap Up and Community Plug
33:59 Portuguese A Team Outro
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