In 2021, a year still affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) decreased again (-1.6% compared to the previous year), in an economic context marked by strong economic growth, Gross Value Added (GVA) increased by 5.5% in volume, the biggest positive development since 1990. On the other hand, the other environmental stress indicators worsened: Acidification Potential (ACID) and Tropospheric Ozone Formation Potential (TOFP) increased by 2.8% and 3.8% respectively.

The activity sectors that contributed most to the decrease in GWP were Energy, water supply and sewerage (-12.6%) and Industry (-4.5%). On the other hand, showing signs of recovery after the significant restrictions on activity resulting from the pandemic, there were increases in greenhouse gas emissions in Transport, information and communication (23.8%), Construction (10.3%) and Trade and food service activities (7.6%).

The combination of the reduction in GWP emissions and the increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) led to a reduction in the Carbon Intensity of the Portuguese economy of 6.9 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching the lowest value since 1995, the beginning of the series of observations.