Cape Verde
Climate Change
At the outset, we would like to put on record our full support to the AOSIS
position on climate change, as it has been articulated by the distinguished
delegate of Tuvalu.
Cape Verde is within SIDS a very specific reality. It shares all the vulnerabilities
of this group of countries and is severely affected by drought. Drought is an
evident consequence of climate change. It is a permanent constraint to the
preservation of our biodiversity, food security and water supply.
Management of climatic phenomena is of utmost importance for Cape Verde, a
volcanic archipelago with a large coastal area, an active volcano and extremely
vulnerable to climate change. Hence our focus on the effective implementation
of international legal binding instruments such as UNFCC, Agenda 21, JPOI,
and the conventions on Biodiversity and Drought and Desertification.
For us, only an encompassing strategy that address both the natural and
anthropogenic causes of climate changes and sea level rise, can effectively
strengthen resilience against the effects of these phenomena.
Integrating adaptation approaches in national development plans, namely in our
poverty reduction and growth programs is a key element of such a strategy.
Poverty aggravates the effects of climate change, namely coastal erosion and
deforestation. Alternatives have therefore to be found namely for very poor
families for which extraction of sand in beaches for construction purpose,
although illegal, constitutes an essential and, often, sole source of income,
mainly in rural areas.
Other elements are protection of the most vulnerable areas and recovery of
degraded areas and effective implementation of adaptation projects, including
those approved within the African region framework.
In order to identify and to quantify correctly the impacts of the climatic changes
and sea level rise and to define mitigation and recovery modalities that best suit
our reality, the Capeverdian authorities deem it fundamental to invest in scientific
research, taking advantage of the dynamics of the recent creation of the
University of Cape Verde.
Another important measure is the creation of a national network for climate
monitoring, which requires sufficient technical and financial capacity.
The production of energy and desalinization of water of the sea to produce
drinking water are two important consumers of fossil fuels. The consumption
tendency is clearly on the rise. Therefore, the country urgently needs to access
clean technologies of energy and water production. We have potentials for
developing renewable energy, namely solar and wind. Furthermore, there are
projects of expansion of three ?wind? parks in the archipelago, but we are still to
identify potential implementation partners.
Before concluding, we would like to support the proposal of convening a high
level summit on climate change. Such a proposal is consistent with the urgent
need to act if we are to avoid the potential and unimaginable impacts of climate
change. It also integrates in the vision of the UN Secretary General in what
relates to his priority areas of action.
I thank you.
At the outset, we would like to put on record our full support to the AOSIS
position on climate change, as it has been articulated by the distinguished
delegate of Tuvalu.
Cape Verde is within SIDS a very specific reality. It shares all the vulnerabilities
of this group of countries and is severely affected by drought. Drought is an
evident consequence of climate change. It is a permanent constraint to the
preservation of our biodiversity, food security and water supply.
Management of climatic phenomena is of utmost importance for Cape Verde, a
volcanic archipelago with a large coastal area, an active volcano and extremely
vulnerable to climate change. Hence our focus on the effective implementation
of international legal binding instruments such as UNFCC, Agenda 21, JPOI,
and the conventions on Biodiversity and Drought and Desertification.
For us, only an encompassing strategy that address both the natural and
anthropogenic causes of climate changes and sea level rise, can effectively
strengthen resilience against the effects of these phenomena.
Integrating adaptation approaches in national development plans, namely in our
poverty reduction and growth programs is a key element of such a strategy.
Poverty aggravates the effects of climate change, namely coastal erosion and
deforestation. Alternatives have therefore to be found namely for very poor
families for which extraction of sand in beaches for construction purpose,
although illegal, constitutes an essential and, often, sole source of income,
mainly in rural areas.
Other elements are protection of the most vulnerable areas and recovery of
degraded areas and effective implementation of adaptation projects, including
those approved within the African region framework.
In order to identify and to quantify correctly the impacts of the climatic changes
and sea level rise and to define mitigation and recovery modalities that best suit
our reality, the Capeverdian authorities deem it fundamental to invest in scientific
research, taking advantage of the dynamics of the recent creation of the
University of Cape Verde.
Another important measure is the creation of a national network for climate
monitoring, which requires sufficient technical and financial capacity.
The production of energy and desalinization of water of the sea to produce
drinking water are two important consumers of fossil fuels. The consumption
tendency is clearly on the rise. Therefore, the country urgently needs to access
clean technologies of energy and water production. We have potentials for
developing renewable energy, namely solar and wind. Furthermore, there are
projects of expansion of three ?wind? parks in the archipelago, but we are still to
identify potential implementation partners.
Before concluding, we would like to support the proposal of convening a high
level summit on climate change. Such a proposal is consistent with the urgent
need to act if we are to avoid the potential and unimaginable impacts of climate
change. It also integrates in the vision of the UN Secretary General in what
relates to his priority areas of action.
I thank you.
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