Seychelles highlights COP28 agenda ahead of conference in Dubai |28 November 2023

Minister Joubert flanked by Mr Prosper (left) and PS Imaduwa during the interview yesterday (Photo: Patrick Joubert)

By Patrick Joubert

Seychelles will be at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) with a fully packed programme with key messages and activities with the aim of reaping benefits for the country.

It was the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE), Flavien Joubert, who made the statement yesterday morning during an interview with the media at the ministry’s secretariat, Kingsgate House, on the country’s participation and activities at COP28 scheduled to be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Also present were the principal secretary for the Climate Change department, Tony Imaduwa, and director general of Climate Change division, Justin Prosper.

Minister Joubert said Seychelles’ delegation, to be led by President Wavel Ramkalawan, will include around 80 personnel comprising officials from government and public enterprises, non- government organisations (NGOs) and the private sector, who will participate in various activities in and around the conference.

He noted the government is catering for the government officials, among whom there will be six ministers.

The other participants are bearing their own costs and are registered as part of the Seychelles delegation for administrative and access purposes.

The minister stated that President Ramkalawan will address the conference and among some of the key messages from Seychelles is the need to step up the Climate Ambition for credible actions, policies and plans to accelerate the decarburisation of the global economy, the inadequacy of Climate Change finance to support adaptation and energy transition, the urgency at hand to combat climate change and rising cost of climate impacts on our country and others with limited resources.

He will also urge consideration for Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) in the way some countries are more vulnerable than others, especially the small island states, the implementation of the loss and damage fund to cater for damage caused by climate change and for nations to stick to the Paris Agreement to halve Green House Gas (GHG) emission by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Minister Joubert added that Seychelles will have a designated pavilion to conduct various activities such as bilateral meetings, discussions and presentations in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, among other climate change concerns, that will attract donors, investors and partnerships.

“While we seek to make our position known, we also want our people who are attending the conference to come back with certain key initiatives or key projects in relation to climate mitigation and adaptation for their different sectors for the benefit of our country’s progression,” added the minister.