25 June 2015 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner wrapped up a successful visit to Seychelles yesterday, which included meeting with the President of the Republic of Seychelles, senior government officials and a lecture at the University of Seychelles.
This visit reflected UNEP's commitment to regional seas conventions and action plans and the importance of its partnerships with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). During his stay, Executive Director Steiner joined Ministers and senior officials from West Indian Ocean Nations and addressed the 8th Conference of Parties (COP8) to the Nairobi Convention.
On Tuesday, Steiner participated in the opening of the COP8 along with the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Seychelles, Didier Dogley, kicking off discussions among assembled Ministers and delegations from each of the parties to the Nairobi Convention. In his remarks, Steiner noted the strong potential of the Western Indian Ocean region in driving sustainable economic development in the region. He also pointed out shared challenges, such as coral bleaching and overexploited crustacean stocks, that the parties will need to address going forward. The COP concluded with a number of key calls to action from the Contracting Parties, including calls for regional guidelines on environmental management of oil and gas development, and a regional climate change strategy.
In the capital, Victoria, Steiner called on President James Michel, and discussed areas of potential cooperation, including the Blue Economy and renewable energy. They also spoke about the Nairobi Convention, and its importance in securing the West Indian Ocean region as a sustainable resource for both the Seychelles and the region in the coming decades.
While in the capital, he also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport, Joël Morgan. Their productive discussion centred on Seychelles' achievements and ambitions in the renewable energy realm, and the effects of climate change on Small Island Developing States. SIDS will be among those countries that suffer most from the negative effects of climate change and typically have especially vulnerable ecosystems. Mr. Morgan reaffirmed the Seychelles' commitment to establishing a climate agreement at COP21 in Paris this year.
Mr. Steiner also met with the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange, at the Constance Ephelia Resort, a Seychelles Sustainable Tourism-certified hotel. Minister St. Ange highlighted the need for a globally recognized sustainable tourism label and the inextricable link between tourism and environmental sustainability. They also discussed the potential benefits of the Nairobi Convention for regional tourism cooperation. A tour of the hotel premises followed, which showcased some of the more novel sustainability initiatives on the grounds, like a solar-powered bottling plant that reduces waste by over a quarter million plastic bottles every year.
Calling on the Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Jean-Paul Adam, Steiner was able to further discuss financial incentives and initiatives that can drive the Blue Economy in Seychelles and in other SIDS. The Minister highlighted some of the latest financial innovations that Seychelles was pursuing, like blue bonds and a debt for nature swap.
Executive Director Steiner's programme also included field visits to some of the ecological highlights of Seychelles, planting a tree at the National Biodiversity Centre in Barbarons and an encounter with Seychelles' giant tortoises at the Botanical Gardens. He also had the opportunity to tour the Seychelles wind energy farm, getting a close-up look at how Seychelles is using renewables in pursuit of a sustainable future.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Quote by Achim Steiner:
"It is an important year for the Nairobi Convention, which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this week. The Contracting Parties made, among other calls to action at the end of the COP, appeals for a regional climate change strategy and regional guidelines on environmental management of oil and gas development. These actions can play a significant role in the prosperous and sustainable future of the Western Indian Ocean region. The signing of the Strategic Action Programme by nine delegations is an also important step forward to guide sustainable development over the next thirty years. The West Indian Ocean has the power to drive the economies of the region, but we must be vigilant. Regional countries can ensure the WIO is a viable resource for decades to come with a Blue Economy approach.
"I would like to thank Seychelles for hosting the Conference of Parties. Their commitment to the Blue Economy and protecting their resources for future generations was evident not only in my meetings with the President and senior Ministers, but also in concrete action taken to date."
