ECOVISÃO present in two Side-Events at COP22

After a process of selection of events by the United Nations and the European Union, among many applications submitted, Ecovisão, together with the Cape Verde National Water and Sanitation Agency, São Tomé and Príncipe Directorate-General for the Environment, and Euronatura, had the opportunity to organize, on 16 and 17 of November 2016, two side events at COP22, to present the results and achievements of their two projects implemented in these two island.

With financing from the Portuguese Carbon Fund and monitoring by the Portuguese Environment Agency and Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, the Waste Roadmap of Cape Verde and Bioenergy in São Tomé and Príncipe projects are being implemented since December 2014, under the FastStart program. Ecovisão participates as implementing entity in São Tomé and Príncipe in partnership with the General Directorate of Environment, and as coordinator of the Ecovisão/AdPI/TESE implementing consortium in Cape Verde in support of the National Agency Of Water and Sanitation.

These projects were the focus of the two side events, concerning their different perspectives.

The first event, on the 16th, under the theme of "Waste Management in Island Regions", was moderated by Rita Sousa from Euronatura, and began with a first panel with the participation of His Excellency, the Minister of Environment of Portugal, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, His Excellency the Minister of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, and Ineida Rodrigues, representing His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Cape Verde, Gilberto Correia Carvalho Silva.

This panel focused on the importance of cooperation in promoting sustainable development and fighting climate change in island regions, highlighting the role of these projects in the national strategies of Sao Tome and Principe and Cape Verde.

Thereafter, the Waste Roadmap of Cape Verde and Bioenergy in São Tomé and Príncipe were presented as an example of waste management in island regions. Hercules Vieira, President of the Cape Verdean National Water and Sanitation Agency and Susana Palminha, representing the Ecovisão/AdPI/TESE implementing consortium presented the Waste Roadmap Project and the General Environment Director of São Tomé and Príncipe, Arlindo de Carvalho, together with Débora Carneiro, from Ecovisão, focused on the presentation of Bioenergy project.

To close the event, Maria João Martins, coordinator of both projects, stressed the importance of the role of technology transfer on climate change cooperation.

On the 17th, a second event was held in the European Union premises, focusing on communication in the communities, in the field of waste management and climate change, and presented the communication component associated with the two projects.

This event was also moderated by Rita Sousa, with an opening presentation by Eduardo Santos on behalf of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), focused on the role of cooperation and the projects sustainability after their end date.

The event was followed by a panel dedicated to the presentation of the communication role within the Waste RoadMap of Cape Verde, attended by Joana Mendonça, the National Water and Sanitation Agency of Cape Verde, and Ricardo Nogueira, Technical Coordinator, and Neusa Brito, Local Technical Coordinator from Ecovisão Cape Verde.

Next, a panel presenting the results and achievements at the communication level in the Bioenergy project, with the participation of Arlindo de Carvalho, General Environment Director of São Tomé and Príncipe, and Ana Justo, of Ecovisão, as Project Manager.

To conclude the event, a presentation was made by Maria João Martins, representative of the implementing entities, aiming at the construction of a communication strategy on climate change and waste management and its application under the framework of these projects.

Both events had more than 70 attendees from national and international entities, including representatives from more than 25 countries, covering 5 continents, with the presence of a delegation from the Portuguese Parliament, with representatives of all political parties.

Specific pages were created for the two projects under the COP, www.roadmapcv.com and www.bioandenergy.com, where all the information on the execution and results of these projects, as well as all the communication aspects, are available.