Cape Verde ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in March 1995, which entered into force on the 22^nd of June that same year, as a non-Annex I country, and met its obligation to produce its First National Communication in November 2000.  On December 5, 2005, it ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The country has already submitted the Second National Communication and preparing the Third.

A growth in the greenhouse gas emissions in Cape Verde is expected in order to meet the social and development needs. However, although as a developing country with an insignificant rate emissions in world terms, Cape Verde has made certain commitments that will be implemented, namely:  programmes and activities related to sustainable development; programmes for the mitigation of the impacts and vulnerability to climate change including adaptation measures. To this end, the Government’s programmes and actions related to climate change in Cape Verde have always favored the promotion of a paradigm shift to establish a direct link between low carbon development and adaptation, green economy, social inclusion, poverty reduction and persecution the Millennium Development Goals and now of the Sustainability Development Goals.

Therefore, there are already several examples of completed and ongoing projects with this aim, including wind and photovoltaic parks on various islands, providing the country with a renewable energy coverage rate above 30%. A further development is the establishment of the West African Renewable Energy Centre, which promotes research in Cape Verde and in the countries of the West African Region in the areas of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREEC).  Furthermore, the Government of Cape Verde recently created an Energy Security Fund to promote research and development of new technologies in the sector. It has also approved a set of legal and fiscal incentives for the implementation of micro-generation projects in service, residential and touristic buildings. In an initial phase and within a partnership with municipalities, some public buildings will be included in a micro renewable generation programme with the power of 120 KW that they shall distribute amongst themselves.

Cape Verde also hosts the headquarters of the International Centre for Climate Research for Countries of Portuguese Speaking and Africa (CIICLAA) awaiting funding to become fully operational.

Following the Decision 1/CP20 Cape Verde has drafted its contribution Intentional Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), subject to support from the international community, which intends to contribute to the overall objectives of greenhouse gas emission reduction and reduction the vulnerability through the implementation of policies.

The National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics of Cape Verde acts as the UNFCCC’s national focal point.