Why does this glossary matter?
Across this edition, it will become clear that climate action in Cabo Verde is increasingly taking shape at the level where impacts are most directly felt. Municipalities, communities, young people, and institutions are starting to play a more active role in identifying risks, shaping responses and implementing solutions.
In this context, understanding a few key concepts actually allows one to see how these various initiatives connect to one another, as ideas which frame climate action as a collective and evolving process, grounded in both knowledge and practice.
Key-concepts
| Term | Definition |
| GCF (Green Climate Fund) | The world’s largest dedicated fund helping developing countries respond to climate change, currently financing Cabo Verde’s new national and local governance projects. |
| NAP (National Adaptation Plan) | A strategic national framework that guides Cabo Verde in identifying medium- and long-term climate adaptation needs and implementing strategies to build resilience. |
| Climate Resilience | The capacity of individuals, communities or systems to anticipate, adapt to and respond to climate impacts while maintaining essential functions. It is a gradual process that combines prevention, adaptation and continuous learning, allowing societies to better manage both current and future risks, as with TAOLA+ Network’s effort to integrate climate data straight into biodiversity conservation blueprints. |
| NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions): | Cabo Verde’s formal, internationally registered commitments under the UN Paris Agreement to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change |
| Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) | A strategy that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. A clear, hands-on example of this concept in action was explored during the FoJAC 2026 forum, where young leaders visited the Sal Rei salt pans in Boa Vista to study how regenerating coastal wetlands naturally shields local communities from erosion and rising sea levels. |
How can this glossary be used?
These concepts provide a way to frame the different dimensions of climate action explored in this edition. They can support the design of local initiatives, inform capacity-building efforts, and strengthen understanding of how different actors contribute to more effective responses.
As climate action becomes more closely linked to people and places, developing a shared language also becomes fervently essential to connect knowledge, practice and decision-making.