The Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde stipulates that the environment is part of the public domain. The right to information indicates that all citizens have the right to be informed and to inform (to search, to receive and to diffuse information). In particular, article 44 refers to the freedom to use new technologies to obtain information and safeguarding national interests. One of the priority objectives of the state is to assure total respect for the basic freedoms and rights of the citizens, therefore creating the conditions that allow for access to information.

The Environment Basic Laws establish the basic principles and confirm the right of citizens to a healthy environment. The reference to environmental information is not explicit, but it is founded in measures that guarantee efficiency of principles (prevention, promotion and sensitization, balance, participation, management and integrated, action and accountability). This way, information is one of the priority measures to guarantee the basic principles about collection, diffusion and circulation of environmental information.

Cape Verde ’s Second National Environment Action Plan (PANA II) is considered as an integrant part of the Country’s global development policy, intending to establish a balance between sustainable use of the national natural resources patrimony and the environment. It is formulated within a long term planning process and can be annually updated, on the basis of credible and founded scientific orientations.

It was validated in participatory public sessions and approved by the Government in a Council of Ministers session specialized for the Environment and presided over by the Prime Minister. It is constituted by 9 Inter-sectorial plans and 17 Municipal Environmental Plans. It constitutes a Government planning instrument based on the following domains : health, economy growth and competitiveness (tourism, industry and energy) education, international cooperation, infrastructures and transport, justice, environment, agriculture and fisheries. The EIS is one of the activities of the PANA II Implementation chronogramme.

EIS is foreseen as an action/project of the 4.2 axis of the Strategic Programme for the Information Society (PESI), which includes environmental management and territory organization and was elaborated by the Operational Nucleus for the Information Society (NOSI). This axis intends to make use of the Information and Communication Technologies (TIC) to connect within a network the institutions that produce environmental data and the users, in the framework of the Environmental Information System (EIS).

The Decree-Law nº81/2005 of 5 December 2005, establishes the creation and the legal regimen of the Environmental Information System.