AGP Executive Report

Global Climate: September 2026 was the planet’s second-hottest September on record, while January through September was the second-warmest such period, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus. The figures add urgency to climate resilience efforts for island nations such as São Tomé and Príncipe.

Global Climate: September 2026 was the planet’s second-hottest September since records began in 1850, according to NOAA, NASA and Europe’s Copernicus service. January–September also ranked as the second-warmest such period on record, behind 2024.

Climate: September 2026 was the planet’s second-hottest September since records began in 1850, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus. The January–September global average also ranked second-highest, underscoring the rising climate pressures facing island nations such as São Tomé and Príncipe. Development and resilience: An IMF review of countries that graduated from least-developed status notes that São Tomé and Príncipe was among eight graduates since 1994. Growth did not automatically accelerate after graduation; outcomes were shaped by factors including natural disasters, tourism dependence and resource cycles.

Global Heat: September 2026 was the planet’s second-hottest September on record, with January–September also the second-warmest year-to-date period. Climate Resilience: An IMF review of least-developed-country graduates, including São Tomé and Príncipe, says average growth was broadly unchanged before and after graduation. Tourism dependence, resource cycles and natural disasters shaped countries’ results, underscoring the importance of resilience beyond graduation itself.

Climate: September 2026 was the world’s second-hottest September on record, with January–September also ranking second hottest. The continuing heat raises concerns for vulnerable island ecosystems, including São Tomé and Príncipe’s. Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is using its status as the first country with all its territory designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to link nature protection with livelihoods. Initiatives aim to replace illegal timber harvesting, charcoal production and wildlife poaching with lower-impact businesses, while protecting habitats used by five sea turtle species. Resilience: An IMF review of least-developed-country graduates says graduation alone does not determine growth. São Tomé and Príncipe, which graduated in 2024, is among the eight countries reviewed; tourism dependence, resource cycles and natural disasters shaped outcomes, underscoring the importance of building resilience beyond graduation.

Global Heat: September 2026 was Earth’s second-hottest September on record, with January–September also ranking second behind 2024, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus. Island Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe’s biosphere reserve approach links habitat protection with local livelihoods, aiming to replace illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching with lower-impact work. The islands are home to endemic species and host five sea turtle species. Resilience After Graduation: An IMF review of least-developed countries that graduated, including São Tomé and Príncipe in 2024, says growth outcomes depend on factors such as tourism, resource cycles and natural disasters—not graduation alone.

Global Warming: September 2026 was the planet’s second-hottest September on record, with January–September also ranking second-warmest, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus. Conservation and Livelihoods: São Tomé and Príncipe, whose entire territory is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is linking conservation with sustainable economic activity and community livelihoods. Efforts include alternatives to illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching. Climate Resilience: An IMF review of least-developed countries that graduated, including São Tomé and Príncipe in 2024, found growth was broadly unchanged after graduation. Outcomes were shaped by factors such as tourism dependence and natural disasters, underscoring the importance of resilience beyond graduation.

Global Climate: September 2026 was the world’s second-warmest September since records began in 1850, with January to September also ranking second-highest. Island Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is using a model that links nature protection with local livelihoods, including alternatives to illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching. The islands are home to five sea turtle species and have been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve across their entire territory. Resilience and Development: An IMF review of countries that graduated from least-developed status notes that São Tomé and Príncipe’s growth prospects remain shaped by tourism dependence and natural disasters; graduation alone does not guarantee faster growth.

Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is using a new model that links nature protection with community livelihoods and sustainable business. The islands’ entire territory is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with efforts to replace illegal logging, charcoal-making and wildlife poaching with lower-impact income sources. Graduation and Resilience: An IMF review of countries that have left least-developed status includes São Tomé and Príncipe, which graduated in 2024. It finds graduation alone does not determine growth; tourism dependence, resource cycles and natural disasters can shape outcomes.

Island Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is using a conservation model that links protected nature with community livelihoods and sustainable business. The country’s entire territory is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and initiatives promote alternatives to illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching. Its waters and beaches also support five sea turtle species. LDC Transition: An IMF review lists São Tomé and Príncipe among eight countries to graduate from least-developed status since 1994. Across the group, growth was broadly unchanged after graduation, with outcomes shaped by factors including tourism dependence and natural disasters—underscoring the importance of resilience alongside development.

Island Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is building conservation into livelihoods and economic activity, rather than relying only on protected areas. The model aims to replace illegal logging, charcoal-making and wildlife poaching with lower-impact work, including small businesses based on sustainably harvested forest snails. The islands’ rich endemic wildlife and sea-turtle nesting sites make that approach especially important. After LDC Graduation: An IMF review finds that graduation from least-developed-country status does not automatically speed up or slow down growth. São Tomé and Príncipe graduated in 2024; the experiences of past graduates point to the importance of managing tourism dependence, external shocks and natural disasters, rather than assuming previous growth drivers will last.

Graduation and Resilience: São Tomé and Príncipe’s 2024 graduation from least-developed-country status is among eight cases the IMF reviewed. Their experience suggests graduation alone does not determine growth; natural disasters, tourism dependence and other shocks can shape what comes next. Conservation Model: The whole country is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, protecting exceptional biodiversity, including beaches and waters visited by five sea turtle species. A new approach links conservation with local livelihoods, encouraging alternatives to illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching.

Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe’s biosphere-reserve model aims to make conservation part of sustainable development, replacing harmful activities such as illegal logging, charcoal production and wildlife poaching with lower-impact livelihoods. The island nation is home to five sea turtle species. LDC Graduation: An IMF review says graduation alone does not determine future growth: outcomes depend on factors including tourism, resource cycles and natural disasters. São Tomé and Príncipe graduated in 2024. Across eight countries that have graduated since 1994, average growth was broadly unchanged before and after graduation.

Biodiversity & Conservation: São Tomé and Príncipe is highlighted as a global biodiversity hotspot and the first country with 100% of its territory designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with major sea turtle nesting and visiting sites; the report points to a new conservation model that links protection to sustainable development and community livelihoods, including shifting away from illegal timber, charcoal, and turtle or shark poaching toward lower-impact micro-enterprises. Climate & Resilience Finance: An IMF review of least developed country graduation notes that growth outcomes for recent graduates have been broadly unchanged around 2.9% before and after graduation, shaped by tourism dependence, natural disasters, and the pandemic—an important caution for how future support should be planned for countries like São Tomé and Príncipe. Health Supply Security (Regional): Libya signed an MoU to join the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, joining nations including São Tomé and Príncipe, aiming to improve access and affordability of essential medicines while supporting local manufacturing. Gender & Social Justice Funding: A Lusophone Africa-focused piece argues feminist movements across Portuguese-speaking countries—including São Tomé and Príncipe—face a fragmented funding ecosystem that leaves them under-resourced despite active climate- and rights-related organizing. Agriculture Heritage Capacity: A FAO-backed workshop in South Africa ended with officials from 16 African countries agreeing to expand Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems designations, using training to build proposals and unlock funding.

Biodiversity & Marine Protection: São Tomé and Príncipe is highlighted as a global biodiversity hotspot and the first country with 100% of its territory designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with conservation tied to sustainable livelihoods to curb illegal timber, charcoal, and turtle/shark poaching while supporting community enterprises around low-impact harvesting. Health Supply Security: Libya has signed an MoU to join the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, joining countries including São Tomé and Príncipe to improve access and affordability of essential medicines and strengthen local manufacturing. LDC Graduation Lessons: An IMF review notes that LDC graduation doesn’t automatically speed up growth, pointing to factors like tourism dependence, natural disasters, and shocks; São Tomé and Príncipe is listed among recent graduates (2024). Agriculture Heritage Capacity: A FAO-backed workshop in South Africa ended with officials from 16 African countries agreeing to expand Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems designations, aiming to boost proposal skills and unlock funding. Global Finance Push: An Indian parliamentary delegation at the UN urged fairer, more predictable financing for developing nations and faster member dues, linking economic inclusion to support for the Global South.

Biodiversity & Coastal Protection: São Tomé and Príncipe is doubling down on conservation by making it part of everyday sustainable development, replacing extractive informal livelihoods (like illegal timber, charcoal, and turtle or shark poaching) with lower-impact alternatives and community-linked micro-enterprises, while leveraging its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status and sea turtle nesting and feeding grounds. Health Supply Security: Libya has signed an MoU to join the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, joining countries including São Tomé and Príncipe to improve access and affordability of essential medicines and strengthen local manufacturing; Libya also takes chairmanship of the ReTAC for North Africa. Gender Justice Funding: A new discussion on Portuguese-speaking Africa highlights how feminist movements across lusophone countries—including São Tomé and Príncipe—face a fragmented funding ecosystem that leaves them under-resourced despite active organizing, with climate change and gender-based violence shaping priorities. Agricultural Heritage Capacity: A FAO-backed workshop in South Africa ended with officials from 16 African countries agreeing to push for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems sites, aiming to boost skills to draft proposals and unlock funding. LDC Graduation Lessons: An IMF review notes that for recent LDC graduates, graduation alone hasn’t clearly changed growth trends, with outcomes shaped by factors like tourism dependence, natural disasters, and resource cycles—relevant to São Tomé and Príncipe’s 2024 graduation.