João Pedro Matos Fernandes (born 1967) is a Portuguese politician who served as
Minister of the Environment
An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of the environment) is a cabinet position charged with protecting the natural environment and promoting wildlife conservation. The areas associated with the duties of a ...
until 30 March 2022.
[
]
Early life and education
Matos Fernandes has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Porto
The University of Porto (''Universidade do Porto'') is a Portuguese public research university located in Porto, and founded on 22 March 1911. It is the second largest Portuguese university by number of enrolled students, after the University ...
and a master's degree in transport from Instituto Superior Técnico
The Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, also known as Técnico, and stylized TÉCNICO LISBOA; English: ) is the school of engineering and technology of the University of Lisbon. It was founded as an autonomous school in 1911, and was integrated in ...
.
Early career
Before entering politics, Matos Fernandes served as president of the Portuguese Port Authorities' Association from 2008 to 2010, and as chairman of the Viana do Castelo Port Authority from 2009 to 2012.
Political career
When Portugal held the rotating presidency
A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...
of the Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and less formally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU) a ...
in 2021, Matos Fernandes chaired the meetings of its Environment Council
The Environment Council (ENVI) is a configuration of the Council of the European Union. It meets about four times a year. It brings together the environment ministers and is responsible for the EU environment policy.
This Council deals with env ...
.
During his time in office, Matos Fernandes later oversaw an auction in August 2020 of contracts to build and operate new solar energy capacity that set a world record for the lowest price of future output.
With Portugal facing a winter drought in early 2022, Matos Fernandes ordered some of the country's hydropower dams to temporarily limit water use for electricity production and irrigation, prioritizing human consumption instead, and to ensure a supply of drinking water for at least two years.[Catarina Demony (1 February 2022)]
Drought prompts Portugal to order hydropower dams to limit water use
''Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency ...
''.
Personal life
Matos Fernandes is a cousin of ''Narcos
''Narcos'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro. Set and filmed in Colombia, seasons 1 and 2 are about Colombian narcoterrorist and drug lord Pablo Escobar, leader ...
'' actor Pêpê Rapazote.
References
1967 births
Living people
Government ministers of Portugal
People from Águeda
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