Cape Verde PM Demands Climate Justice at UN General Assembly
United Nations, New York – Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Cape Verdean Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho issued a stirring call for “climate justice,” arguing that the world’s most vulnerable nations can no longer pay the price for a crisis they did not create.
“The climate crisis is a matter of justice,” Carvalho declared, delivering his first UN address in the Cape Verdean language. “Those who contribute the least to the crisis cannot continue to bear its most serious consequences. Science has already shown the way; we must transform this valuable knowledge into decisive action.”
A Nation Under Siege by Nature
The Prime Minister’s appeal came at a poignant moment, just one day after Tropical Storm Gonzalo battered the archipelago, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage. Carvalho highlighted the immediate impact on Sal Island, the nation’s tourism hub, where rising seawater surged into hotel districts.
“The climate crisis is already here: in the drought, in ocean acidification, in rising sea levels,” he said. For Cape Verde, an arid chain of islands increasingly subjected to violent storms, the stakes are existential. Carvalho reminded the assembly of the human cost, citing the tragic loss of life during Storm Erin in 2025 and subsequent heavy rainfall later that year.
Leading the Charge for Island Nations
Carvalho positioned Cape Verde as a leading voice for maritime and island safety. He noted that the country is actively pushing for a global climate pact at the UN, emphasizing that for an island nation, “protecting the ocean is not just environmental policy: it is protecting territory, the economy, and the future.”
Looking ahead, Carvalho announced that Cape Verde will assume the presidency of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in 2027. Under his leadership, the nation plans to champion a “fairer financing” agenda for climate action, ensuring that small island nations receive the economic support necessary to adapt to a rapidly warming world.
Demands for Global Reform
Beyond the environment, the Prime Minister advocated for a fundamental overhaul of international governance. He called for a stronger commitment to multilateralism and urgent reforms to the United Nations to increase its effectiveness. Specifically, he echoed the growing demand for increased African representation on the UN Security Council.
Invoking the words of Amílcar Cabral, the revolutionary leader of Cape Verdean and Bissau-Guinean independence, Carvalho urged the international community to “always learn.” He concluded by emphasizing that investing in education and empowering young people are the most effective tools for “protecting the planet and promoting peace.”
Image: Pexels – Nico Marín
