Seychellois youth delivers statement at Aosis leaders’ event |25 September 2021

A Seychellois youth has suggested that the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) present a Youth statement at the Youth4Climate pre-Conference of the Parties (COP) event that will take place in Milan from September 28-30.

Victoria Alis, who will be a youth representative from Seychelles at the COP event, made the suggestion at the recent Aosis ‘AIS’-Atlantic Indian Ocean and South Sea China workshop that took place from August 31 to September 2.

While the Aosis was working tirelessly on the new leaders' Declaration that was officially adopted at the Aosis leaders summit on September 23, Aosis took consideration of Miss Alis’ suggestion on board.

Miss Alis became the first Seychellois to deliver a Youth statement in front of small island developing states (Sids) leaders. Miss Alis developed the statement in collaboration with youth colleagues Daryl from Antigua and Barbuda, and Okalani from Samoa – one person from each Sids region.

Commenting on the special vulnerability of Sids to climate change in her statement, Miss Alis said: “All stakeholders must be engaged to take critical steps to building climate resilience in Sids, including in particular the youth. Youth are crucial partners in ensuring that marginalised and at risk communities in Sids are protected from the impacts of climate change.

We are hopeful that Aosis will take consideration of the youth statement to the upcoming COP 26.”

Contributed