For COP30, we expect greater inclusion of small island and coastal states in decision-making

Caspian Energy (CE): What are the key priorities of Guinea-Bissau’s current environmental policy?

Viriato Luis Soares Cassama, Minister of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action of Guinea-Bissau: Guinea-Bissau’s environmental policy is centered on three main pillars: climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Our priorities include combating deforestation through reforestation programs and sustainable land management; protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, given that over 25% of our territory consists of mangroves and wetlands; strengthening waste management, particularly plastic pollution control, in line with our commitment to the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations; protecting coastal zones from erosion; promoting renewable energy to reduce dependence on biomass and fossil fuels; and integrating climate adaptation measures into agriculture and water resource management to safeguard food security.

These efforts are framed within our National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.