“Lisbon is implementing a noise action plan, initiated in 2014 and running until 2029, which requires updating based on the city’s dynamics by approving the strategic map,” said Rui Cordeiro, the council member responsible for noise (PSD), during the presentation of the proposal at Lisbon’s Municipal Assembly meeting.
Rui Cordeiro also mentioned that the current noise action plan designates 12 quiet zones, which will “more than double” in the future plan, increasing to 26.
The designated quiet zones are subjected to an Lden value (a noise indicator for day, evening, and night that covers a 24-hour period) of 55 decibels or lower, aligning with overall discomfort levels – dB(A) – and an Ln value (a night-time noise indicator for the hours between 11 PM and 7 AM) of 45 dB(A) or less, based on requirements outlined by law and demarcated by the city council.
The city council’s proposal to update the strategic noise map, referencing the year 2022, was approved with abstentions from BE, Livre, PEV, PCP, deputy Miguel Graça (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), PS, PAN, IL, and Chega, and votes in favor from PSD, MPT, CDS-PP, and Jorge Nuno Sá (elected from the now-dissolved Aliança).
IL presented a recommendation, noting that the document is “very incomplete,” lacking data on cruise ships, railway, and nightlife-related noise. They urged the council to begin updating the strategic map promptly after the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) provides official 2023 data on aerial and airport noise.
This recommendation garnered majority approval and included advocating for a “transparent update process, featuring public data dissemination and promoting citizen and association involvement,” despite opposition from PSD and CDS-PP.
Responding to IL’s concerns, Rui Cordeiro noted collaborations with the Port of Lisbon and APA regarding maritime noise to incorporate future strategic maps, alongside adoption of mitigation and monitoring measures in nightlife zones.
PS deputy José Leitão accused the PSD/CDS-PP leadership of “inaction” for being “at least two years behind” in updating the noise strategic map, to which social democrat Rui Cordeiro replied that under socialist governance, the document “remained stagnant for a decade” since 2011.
Road traffic remains Lisbon’s primary source of exterior environmental noise, with an estimated 13.6% of residents experiencing noise levels above the legal limits, according to 2022 data released by the municipality.
The strategic noise map update revealed that all roadways in Lisbon affect 74,118 municipality residents, exposing them to ambient noise levels exceeding 65 dB(A), concerning the Lden indicator.
These 74,118 individuals represent approximately 13.6% of Lisbon’s population, within a total of 545,761 residents, based on the 2021 Census.
According to Lisbon’s Municipal Master Plan regulations in effect, the entire municipal area is classified as a mixed zone, indicating that residents should not experience ambient noise levels exceeding those set in the General Noise Regulation, at 65 dB(A) and 55 dB(A) for Lden and Ln indicators, respectively.
