In a compelling display of commitment to environmental stewardship, the Seychelles Pavilion hosted the second side event this morning titled “A Quest for a More Resilient and Sustainable Future: An Urgent Need for Climate Action and Healthy Oceans in Seychelles.” Chaired by Dr. Rolf Payet, the Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, the panel discussion featured esteemed individuals from key representatives namely; Ms. Leticia Carvalho from Head of Marine and Freshwater Branch, Ecosystem Division and the SIDS focal Point, Mrs. Preethi Nair from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the country office of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) in Seychelles and Mr. Joao Sousa as the Senior Programme Manager, International union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The panel of discussion was split in two main sections; The first part entitled “Gathering a Momentum for SIDS for actions and advancing action on the ground” participants shared highlights and lesson learned from the Blue Carbon Portfolio and Plastic Waste Freel Island Project. As the second panel, Ms. Sheena Talma a science Program Manager from Nekton Foundation shared her experience during her field of Study on plastic Debris in Seychelles.
The event focused on climate mitigation and adaptation through the environmentally sound management of harmful chemicals and waste, showcasing initiatives at both national and international levels, especially by Small Island Developing countries (SIDs) like Seychelles. This event contributed towards a range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particularly SDG 3 (good health and well-being), 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate change), 14 (life below water), 15 (life on land), 16 ( peace, justice and strong institutions), and 17 (partnership goals)
During the opening statement, the minister emphasized Seychelles’ proactive steps in reducing plastic waste, shedding light on the challenge of the landfill nearing its capacity. Furthermore, the minister drew attention to Seychelles serving as a ground for ocean waste influx from other nations, underscoring the global nature of the issue.
The event provided a platform for audience engagement, allowing questions and recommendations. As discussions unfolded around the escalating production of plastic materials, plastic waste generation, and the presence of toxic chemicals, the outcomes of research on climate change scenarios and projections for Seychelles revealed the pressing urgency for immediate, collective action. This event serves as a catalyst for change, urging nations to unite in the pursuit of a sustainable and resilient future.