Research project highlights Seychelles’ vulnerability to sea-level rise |31 March 2022
Mr Imaduwa addressing the gathering (Photos: Louis Toussaint)
Stakeholders are being updated on a research project to investigate how global climate finance can be distributed more fairly, taking into account the diversity of climate hazards and uneven vulnerability of countries around the globe.
The project, dubbed adjust, includes a case study on coastal vulnerability to sea level rise (SLR) in Seychelles, and is designed to ensure that the research activities help to meet local needs.
The five-year research project was launched in May last year and the two-day workshop which opened yesterday at the STC conference hall is to update stakeholders on the project status and to gain feedback on research priorities for the next few years.
The objectives of the workshop are to gain a deeper understanding of the stakeholders’ views on Seychelles’ vulnerability to sea-level rise and adaptation priorities; present modelling options for coastal flooding and determine research priorities of the vulnerability assessment.
The two-day workshop is being conducted by a research group from Kiel University in Germany. They are being assisted by local NGO Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Cimate Change and Environment (MACCE).
Present for the workshop are the chief executive of the Seychelles Energy Commission, Tony Imaduwa and representatives from government, civil society and the private sector.
Mr Imaduwa said they are hopeful that the five-year project will help boost the capacity for research in these fields and that Seychelles can benefit from the research with regard to better decision making with the findings or results.
The lead researcher is Dr Christian Baatz, professor of Climate Ethics, and his research design presentation involved the status quo of adaptation finance and whether the procedures and criteria are justifiable and practicable.
Dr Athanasios Vafeidis, professor of coastal systems and hazards presented the background on sea level rise, noting that there is a clear global trend that the sea level is rising due to the melting of the ice from thermal expansion and is accelerating in the 21st century.
He added that sea level will continue to rise even if we start implementing mitigating measures now and it is a problem we have to face no matter what we do.
The mitigation will help slow it down and the uncertainty regarding emissions is how the ice sheets will melt.
Currently the increase in sea level is 5mm per year and by the end of the century it is likely to rise to 1m with a strong probability that it can be higher to even 4m.
The workshop will allow the researchers and the local stakeholders to have a dialogue on Seychelles’ vulnerability and the long term needs. The research will fill in the gaps and the local stakeholders will have full access to the data once it is completed in 2025.
Michele Martin, a member of the S4S board who is helping the researchers connect to local stakeholders and facilitate the workshop, said the stakeholders will have full access to the research reports as it is a climate ethics project.
The research will be conducted by using open access programmes, surveys and interviews from various ministries, departments, NGOs etc.
The participants will get the chance to share their views, concerns and provide information for the research.
The workshop continues today with a tour of the Seychelles Ports Authority to assess its vulnerability to sea level rise.
Marla Simeon