Through its mandate, the Instituto do Mar – IMar sees its activities being impacted by climate change on the one hand and, on the other, its activities being able to minimize these impacts and contribute to greater knowledge and, subsequently, adaptive capacity of our ocean and those who depend on it. An example of this is the study that is being started on the use of bioindicators to monitor the climate health of coastal zones, in addition to other initiatives that the Institute is leading and implementing.
Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, requiring a holistic analysis and interdisciplinary approaches that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries. Within this paradigm, climate regulation and mitigating the effects of extreme weather events are fundamental pillars for maintaining global environmental stability. In this context, preserving the integrity and functionality of natural ecosystems is of inestimable importance, as they are undoubtedly key elements for ecological and climatic stability on a planetary scale.
As the global population reaches the eight billion mark, the impacts of extreme weather events are worsening, outlining a challenging scenario on a global scale. This population growth not only intensifies the pressure on natural resources, but also compromises nature’s ability to regulate the climate, increasing the vulnerability of communities to adverse climatic events. Although the greenhouse effect is essential for the Earth’s habitability, human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial processes, has drastically increased the concentration of these gases. This has further exacerbated the effects of climate change, making it urgent to take coordinated and sustainable action to tackle this global challenge. This aggravation has caused the average temperature of the atmosphere to rise, resulting in the phenomenon known as global warming. These changes are occurring at an accelerated rate, compared to historical natural variations, as evidenced by the increase in average global temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and changes in ice cover.
On the African continent, despite low per capita greenhouse gas emissions, communities disproportionately face the impacts of climate change. Communities located in regions of high climate vulnerability are especially exposed to the adverse impacts of environmental change, facing significant challenges related to socio-economic resilience in the face of prolonged droughts, intense storms, flash floods, rising temperatures and sea levels, which threaten not only food security, fisheries and other livelihoods, in increasingly recurrent extreme events. These phenomena highlight the fragility of island states like Cape Verde, which, due to their geographical location, are particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Faced with this unique vulnerability, Cape Verde has made considerable efforts to develop comprehensive strategies, not only to mitigate adverse impacts, but also to strengthen the resilience of local communities and ecosystems. These strategies aim to address the immediate challenges of climate change, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country and the well-being of its inhabitants.
In a context where out of 182 countries analyzed according to ND-GAIN, 2021, the country ranks 88th most vulnerable in the world to climate change and 76th in terms of preparedness to face this threat, Cape Verde has adopted a multifaceted strategy, combining innovation, regulation and international cooperation in the field of climate change, which reflects a comprehensive approach, embracing adaptation, mitigation and resilience measures.
With an unequivocal focus on protecting its citizens, preserving its ecosystems and building a sustainable future, the country has developed the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development (PEDSII) for 2022-2026, with a pillar dedicated to climate. Implementing this plan will require substantial investment in key sectors for transformation.
Cape Verde has taken a proactive and committed stance towards the challenges of climate change, seeking investments to tackle its implications in a strategic and innovative way. In this context, the country has adopted approaches aimed at securing additional funding and building key partnerships to promote sustainable and inclusive development. One of the key instruments in this endeavor is the National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change (NAP), a management mechanism that tackles specific challenges with transformative adaptation measures. The NAP not only aims to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and the economy, but also seeks to improve the population’s quality of life, driving the transition to a less polluting economy. This occurs through the implementation of measures that promote economic regeneration, with the active participation of all socio-economic sectors, strengthening both mitigation and adaptation practices.
Among the commitments made by Cape Verde is an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 18% below current use conditions by 2030, with the aim of achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, with metric resilience functions (BO No. 118, 01/12/2021) already programmed in the National Climate Adaptation Plan. This challenge reflects the country’s determination to face the challenges of climate change and its long-term vision for sustainable and climate-resilient development. In addition, Cape Verde has a number of strategies and programs in place, such as the National Renewable Energy Strategy, representing a solid effort by the country to expand its clean energy capacity.
“Where the active promotion of the use of renewable sources, such as solar, wind and biomass, aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, thus contributing to mitigating the impacts of climate change.” In addition, the country has demonstrated a proactive stance in tackling climate challenges through initiatives such as the National Adaptation Plan and the National Action Plan for the Environment, which establish guidelines and actions to promote the sustainable management of natural resources, the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems, adopting a holistic approach to adapting to climate change.
In addition, to deal with the impacts of extreme weather events, such as droughts and tropical storms, Cape Verde has implemented Disaster Risk Management programs. These programs include prevention, preparedness and response measures, aimed at minimizing the damage caused by natural disasters and protecting the country’s communities and ecosystems. They are also initiatives that reflect Cape Verde’s commitment to promoting resilience and sustainability in the face of ongoing climate challenges.
Furthermore, Cape Verde’s active participation in international agreements, such as the Paris (climate) Agreement, reflects its commitment to contributing to global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. These initiatives are in line with Cape Verde’s ambitious vision for 2030, which includes targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda, as well as the goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030, demonstrating a lasting commitment to sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges. As well as the premises of the IPCC and, more recently, the UN High Seas Treaty / BBNJ Agreement “Biodiversity Beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction”, which establishes a broad legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. One of the most significant advances of this agreement is the recognition of the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and biodiversity, including the loss of biological diversity and the degradation of ocean ecosystems due to ocean warming and deoxygenation. The Agreement represents a significant step towards promoting effective ocean governance, conserving marine biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources, as well as establishing mechanisms for capacity building and technology transfer from developed to developing countries. Its swift and efficient ratification is necessary for the process to continue.
This collective and diverse effort demonstrates Cape Verde’s commitment to tackling climate challenges, guaranteeing the preservation of its natural resources and the resilience of its communities in the face of an uncertain future scenario.
Quo Vadis? IMar’s prospects
The determination evident in the country’s initiatives to face the challenges of climate change inspires this reflection on the demands associated with this issue, with a focus on scientific research. Scientific research plays a vital role in addressing the complex challenges presented, providing crucial insights into climate patterns, the impacts of human activities on the environmental balance and effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Climate change has a significant impact on a variety of marine research topics, ranging from the health of their ecosystems to human activities related to the oceans. Being aware that human survival itself depends to a large extent on the goods and services provided by the oceans, the more we know and make decisions in ocean management, based on scientific information, the more we will be contributing to the health and well-being of all. In the field of marine research, especially in fisheries, Cape Verde has adopted a holistic approach to the sustainable management of fisheries resources. This strategy encompasses the creation of marine protected areas and the implementation of strict regulations to mitigate overfishing, including definitions of minimum catch sizes, closed seasons and the stipulation of specific marine protection zones. In addition, the country has directed significant investments towards integrative technological advancement, incorporating satellite monitoring systems in order to effectively curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices. At the same time, strategies are being continuously developed to empower fishing communities to cope with climate change, promoting the diversification of income sources and encouraging the adoption of sustainable fishing methods, within the framework of the blue economy and resilient fishing. IMar joins other national institutions in the area, which play a central role in this process, and in several of its specificities, guaranteeing the sustainability of resources through responsible practices and policies based on scientific evidence.
IMar recognizes the primacy of research in this context and is dedicated to comprehensive studies of the country’s marine and coastal ecosystems that meet these needs, through services in fisheries research / aquaculture, oceanography, technological development and the variables that make them up, in accordance with its Strategic Research Plan and The National Strategy for the Sea, recently published in BO.no.37/24, 27/03/2024. Its analyses cover detailed assessments of marine biodiversity, monitoring of patterns and parameters in coastal areas, including studies of the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. This understanding of the complex interactions between climate variables and the migration patterns of species, as well as the impact on the vitality of coral communities and other organisms, represents a fundamental advance in these areas. One of the specific services is the collection of data that can potentially guide us towards areas of greater productivity, reducing production costs and increasing yields on a community fishing scale. This data is also indicative of the changing dynamics in the abundance of various species due to excessive fishing effort.
Making a note in this paragraph, it is relevant to mention that the modernization of enforcement practices, including the integration of the Coast Guard, the Maritime Police and the General Fisheries Inspectorate, is an important step in combating maritime illicit activities, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which overwhelm the effects of climate change on fisheries resources, guaranteeing the sustainability of fisheries resources and the protection of the oceans, as well as in mapping and widespread monitoring studies.
One way of addressing these gaps would be to cover fisheries areas with surveys of new deep-sea species, which play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change. On this topic, we refer to a study conducted between 1990 and 2021, where Cape Verde carried out experimental fishing campaigns and prospecting for deep-sea demersal resources, highlighting marine biodiversity and its importance for the local economy, in which IMar was involved in all stages of the project. However, the exploitation of these resources is limited by factors such as the lack of specific training, resulting in the continued over-exploitation of coastal resources. There is also a need to promote the sustainable exploitation of these resources through semi-industrial and selective techniques, with prospecting campaigns planned to identify and evaluate deep-sea species and being one of the institute’s research focus points.
Still on the subject of research potential, a significant aspect of the contributions to resilient actions to combat climate change is the monitoring of the environmental conditions of atmospheric and marine systems, as carried out by IMar. This work includes systematizing information on temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and other parameters, as well as increasing knowledge about adjacent cyclical phenomena that occur in the oceans, one of the adjacent effects of which can lead to a reduction in fishing activity due to a decrease in nutrients that attract fish and other marine animals. For example, understanding the thermocline layer, which is found between 50 and 200 meters deep and where there is a sudden drop in temperatures, as well as the rare phenomena of resurgence at the underwater peaks, are crucial to understanding the fluctuation in the distribution of small pelagics in general, and mackerel in particular. One clear change recorded is the sporadic appearance of similar species in national waters, such as the “Portuguese mackerel” (Scomber colias) and the “red-tailed mackerel” (Decapterus tabl). These observations are indicative of changes in the migratory patterns of these species, probably influenced by the climate changes we have experienced in recent years.
At the same time, significant efforts are being made to invest in and develop aquaculture, with the aim of relieving pressure on natural fishing resources. These efforts are aimed at reducing overfishing, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water resources, protecting marine biodiversity, providing alternative sources of protein, stabilizing food security, creating jobs and fostering economic development, as well as driving technological innovations aimed at sustainability.
Through IMar, in terms of oceanographic research, Cape Verde has actively collaborated with national and international scientific institutions, establishing a robust sea level monitoring network. Coastal monitoring stations and advanced instrumentation are used to collect accurate data on changing ocean conditions, providing a crucial basis for understanding regional and global climate trends. This research is key to anticipating extreme events, such as tropical storms, which pose a considerable threat to coastal communities.
Cape Verde will participate in sea level monitoring programs to understand and anticipate the impacts of rising sea levels. This includes the installation of monitoring stations and collaboration with international organizations. The country has invested in oceanographic research to better understand climate patterns and ocean currents, crucial information for the sustainable management of marine resources. One of the ongoing studies on the subject in Cape Verde, through IMar, is on bioindicators of climate resilience in the archipelago. This project involves an integrative analysis of the complex interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in the marine environment, with the fundamental aim of developing proposals for sustainable management strategies in the context of ecosystem studies (involving coral communities, seagrasses, plankton / microalgae and other indicators such as microplastics and pollutants, etc.). In this project implemented with the National Directorate for the Environment and funded by Luxembourg Cooperation, detailed inventories / mapping and experimental field and laboratory tests (e.g. phenotypic, physico-chemical, microbiological, ecotoxicological, genetic and molecular, etc.) will be carried out, assessing resilience in the context of climate change. The development of a system for identifying/monitoring ecosystem links and the health of marine ecosystems will also be addressed, using models to simulate climate change scenarios in order to predict future impacts on marine ecosystems. In addition, information gathered during the study throughout the archipelago will be used to make proposals and specific measures for the conservation and adaptation of marine ecosystems, which can contribute to the formulation of environmental policies and sustainable management strategies and establish partnerships with research institutions, government bodies and local communities as a way of collaborating and engaging with stakeholders.
In addition, we bring here the example of the installation of the Cape Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO) in 2006, which was followed by further investments by the country in autonomous observation systems and oceanographic data collection programs, conducting interdisciplinary campaigns. The success of CVOO led to the expansion to an onshore station, resulting in the construction of the Oceanographic Center of Mindelo (OSCM) at IMar, in co-management with GEOMAR, which began in 2015 and opened in 2017. The OSCM serves as an infrastructure for research, service provision and technological innovation, serving the national, regional and international scientific community, focusing on the challenges of the oceans and especially benefiting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Also in the field of research, IMar stands out for its international cooperation. Participating in global and regional initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement, the institute collaborates with international and foreign institutions to share knowledge and technologies. Examples include the partnership with the Coastal Resilience Project in West Africa, the Climate Change and Resilience in Fisheries and Sustainable Tourism project, among other topics, which are key to implementing adaptation strategies in Cape Verde’s coastal zones.
IMar is also actively seeking climate finance to support its efforts and implement effective strategies. Collaborations with universities, NGOs and global research institutions strengthen the country’s capacity to face climate challenges, promoting economic diversification and the development of sustainable tourism.
Finally, in order to consolidate these initiatives, we reinforce the need to invest strategically in the cooperation of research topics in education to tackle various issues, including climate change. Environmental education programs, such as the Blue Schools and Padrinhos do Mar initiatives, aim to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices, involving the community and highlighting collective responsibility in building climate resilience. IMar is involved with the aforementioned projects and has various educational programs applied to its areas of expertise, which empower local communities to adopt sustainable practices, essential for mitigating long-term environmental impacts.
The comprehensive analysis of the climate challenges facing Cape Verde underlines the imperative need for coordinated, innovative and sustainable action. The country’s commitment, demonstrated through robust national strategies and effective international partnerships, reflects a holistic approach that combines adaptation, mitigation and conservation. This continued commitment positions the country as a leader in the fight against climate change, allowing it to contribute significantly to global environmental stability.
Author
Albertino Martins,
President of the Institute of the Sea – IMar