The municipalities of Boa Vista, Brava, Mosteiros and Ribeira Brava have taken a decisive step in the fight against climate change with the approval of their Local Climate Action Plans (PLACs), known internationally as Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs). These strategic documents define the local roadmap for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, strengthening territorial resilience and providing inclusive access to clean and sustainable energy.
This initiative is part of an increasingly challenging global context for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Cape Verde. Extreme phenomena – such as prolonged droughts, heat waves, rain shortages and the increased frequency of tropical storms – have become more intense and frequent, revealing the great socio-economic and environmental fragility of these nations in the face of climate change.
Although Cape Verde has an insignificant contribution to global warming, the climate impacts felt in the archipelago are disproportionate, severely affecting the productive sectors, water resources, ecosystems, tourism and the well-being of the population. Faced with this reality, the country has made considerable efforts to integrate climate issues into its public policies, most notably the drafting of its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015, through which it committed to a conditional 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, compared to the baseline emissions scenario (BAU – Business as Usual).
The energy diagnoses carried out in 2019 under the PLACs in the municipalities of Boa Vista, Brava, Mosteiros and Ribeira Brava show a strong dependence on the conventional public energy grid, which is still based on the use of fossil fuels. In terms of consumption, the residential and services sector is the main contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to fixed sources such as homes, public and private buildings. In the respective municipalities, this sector accounted for a significant portion of total emissions: 72.8% in Boa Vista, 44.4% in Brava, 35.5% in Mosteiros and 43.2% in Ribeira Brava. The transport sector emerges as the second largest emitter of GHGs, reinforcing the urgency of concrete measures for energy transition at local level.
In Boa Vista, it should also be noted that overall emissions increased by 50.72% between 2010 and 2019, reflecting accelerated economic and demographic growth, driven above all by the development of the tourism sector following the construction of Aristides Pereira International Airport.
Against this backdrop, the municipalities are implementing concrete energy transition actions aimed at reducing emissions and providing fairer, more modern access to energy, in line with the targets set by Cape Verde in the NDC.
In the municipality of Boa Vista, the strong solar potential is being harnessed with the increased integration of solar panels in public buildings, the production and pumping of desalinated irrigation water using photovoltaic energy, the purchase of electric public transport, and the study of solar mini-grids for remote locations. The creation of a Renewable Energy Demonstration and Training Center is also underway, and campaigns are planned to replace inefficient equipment in the residential and commercial sectors. The integration of energy planning into spatial planning and the promotion of community renewable energy cooperatives are also part of the local transition strategy.
Brava Island, which has significant potential for renewable energy production – namely solar and wind – thanks to its geographical location and climatic conditions, aims to become the first island in the country to be supplied by 100% renewable and resilient energy. In this process of safe and sustainable transition, the goal of ensuring that all public lighting on the island is made with LED technology stands out, promoting greater energy efficiency. Also in 2025, the Brava Seawater Desalination Plant (EDAM – Brava), located in Furna, is expected to come into operation, with a nominal capacity of 1,100 m³/day. Initially, this infrastructure will be powered by a 384 kWp photovoltaic production system, with the installation of 87 kWp also planned at the Santa Bárbara Pumping Station. The island’s energy strategy also includes the installation of renewable energy systems in all public buildings, the reinforcement of the existing solar and wind farms, as well as the promotion of sustainable mobility through the purchase of electric public transport.
The municipality of Mosteiros is making progress with concrete initiatives in the field of energy transition, promoting the use of renewable energies, energy efficiency and equitable access to energy, especially in high and isolated areas. Actions such as the installation of solar panels on public buildings, the Fishermen’s House, the introduction of electric vehicles for municipal services, the improvement of public lighting with LED technology, and the massification of renewable energy in the collection and distribution of water for agriculture. These measures contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening local resilience and improving quality of life, positioning Mosteiros as an example of commitment to a more sustainable and inclusive energy future.
In Ribeira Brava, the focus is on increasing energy efficiency in public lighting by replacing conventional bulbs with LED technology, increasing solar and wind farms for isolated communities (e.g. Carriçal), and decarbonizing mobility by introducing electric minibuses for school transport and social services and creating solar charging stations. The municipality also plans to install photovoltaic systems in public buildings and to mobilize water for consumption and agriculture, as well as supporting the use of solar home kits in areas with less access to the grid. In addition, climate education actions will be carried out in schools and local communities.
The respective municipalities have a target of reducing their projected emissions by at least 18% by 2030, in order to comply with the national commitments made in the NDC. They also guarantee that, to the best of their ability, they will support the international community in reducing GHG emissions, contributing to the fight against climate change. Aware of the need to reduce emissions at all levels, the municipality of Brava will integrate this priority into its policies and actions.
With these actions, the municipalities of Boa Vista, Brava, Mosteiros and Ribeira Brava are at the forefront of local climate action in Cape Verde, promoting a paradigm shift in energy use, in line with national commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Through the support of the Climate Action Programme (CVE/401) and the mobilization of national and international partners, these municipalities demonstrate that it is possible to build more sustainable, resilient and energy inclusive territories, putting people and the climate at the heart of development.
