'The first developments under CoM SSA have already allowed the building of Ribeira Grande de Santiago municipality to produce 100% of sustainable energy'

As a response to climate change, the European Union developed the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in 2008. This committed shares, with its signatories, the vision of a sustainable future for cities, regardless of their location or regional dimension.

In this context, the Municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago, as the Municipality's Administrative Body, has committed to implement measures to contribute with effective actions for adaptation, mitigation and universal energy access.

When, in 2016, the European Union launched the Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), the project aimed to alert international partners to the need for action in the face of climate change challenges particularly in island spaces such as Cape Verde.

Cidade Velha, within the scope of sustainable cities, became, together with Cidade da Praia, the first signatory of the Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa in Cape Verde. Today, it is part of the largest network of cities in the African region, joining 11,000 cities working daily against climate change on a global scale.

This project, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Cooperation, is being implemented since 2020.

The project was structured with the aim of supporting the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago in the development of a local strategy through the elaboration, integration and monitoring of an Action Plan for Sustainable Energy and Climate Access (SEACAP).

ALER developed the SEACAP Communication and Awareness Plan, allowing the objectives of this plan to be continuously clear and effective in their communication, in order to promote the participation of all the municipality intervenients.

Additionally, this project proposes to establish a technical assistance framework to support sustainable urban infrastructures and search for climate-related investments.

A third phase is the implementation of a plan for cooperation and dialogue between partners and authorities at local, regional and national level.

Cidade Velha has already experienced a number of CoM SSA initiatives, all of which can be replicated and expanded in other areas of the municipality.

With the support and joint supervision of CERMI, the first developments under CoM SSA have already allowed the building of Ribeira Grande de Santiago municipality to produce 100% of sustainable energy, specifically in the Cultural Centre of Cidade Velha and in the municipal building yard, with an installed capacity of 41.64 kwp.