Climate Change

In 2005, Sao Tomé e Principé submitted its Première Communication Nationale sur les Changements Climatiques (First National Communication on Climate Change) to the UNFCC, followed in 2007 by its National Adaptation Programme of Action on Climate Change.

In some regions of the country, floods, sea-level rise and coastal erosion have reached significant levels, putting major coastal infrastructure at risk. Increases in temperature and a decrease in rainfall are the country's greatest concerns because these phenomena can decrease river flow and the amount of subterranean water available for use. In addition to the greater incidence of droughts and the increased length of the dry season associated with climate change  is the increased risk of flooding in the wet season, which puts added pressure on water resources due to contamination and sanitation issues. Economically, the negative impacts of climate change in Sao Tomé e Principé will be centered on energy production, agriculture and livestock. Human health suffers the effects of climate change as well with the appearance of new diseases in the country and exacerbates the effects of current endemic diseases. Energy and transport are the main sources of carbon emissions in Sao Tomé e Principé; however, current levels of emissions are absorbed by extant forest cover. In this way, the forest plays a key role as a carbon sink, but environmental pressure on forests due to the use of forest products in cooking and other domestic activities creates unsustainable resource pressures.