Dr. Viriato Luís Soares Cassamá is a distinguished leader in environmental governance and climate policy, currently serving as the Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Action of Guinea-Bissau since December 2023. Prior to this role, he was the Counselor to the President of the Republic for Environmental and Climate Affairs, following a successful tenure as Minister of Environment and Biodiversity from 2020 to 2023. Earlier, he held the position of General Director of Environment from 2016 to 2020.

Dr. Cassamá holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies from the Open University of Lisbon (Portugal), a Master of Science in Geo-resources with a specialization in Natural Resources Management from the Technical University of Lisbon, and a Licenciatura (five-year degree) in Environmental Engineering from the New University of Lisbon. He also pursued studies in Chemistry and Petroleum Engineering at the Petroleum Academy of Baku (Azerbaijan).

Throughout his career, Dr. Cassamá has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing sustainable development and climate resilience. His extensive experience includes serving as Guinea-Bissau’s Focal Point and Chief Negotiator to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Coordinator of the REDD Working Group, and Focal Point for several key climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the Climate Investment Fund.

He has led multiple national projects focused on environmental management and climate adaptation, including the UNDP/GEF-supported initiative to strengthen resilience in agricultural and water sectors. Dr. Cassamá has also represented Guinea-Bissau in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and has been actively engaged as a researcher and representative for PALOPS (Portuguese-speaking African countries) on environmental issues.

With over two decades of high-level leadership and diplomatic engagement in environmental policy, Dr. Cassamá continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Guinea-Bissau’s sustainable future.