UNECE Inland Transport Committee Meeting |13 February 2025
Minister Derjacques at the meeting
Seychelles’ Minister for Transport highlights climate resilience and sustainable mobility
Seychelles’ Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, joined global leaders at the 87th Annual Session of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), this year’s session marks the mid-point of ITC’s 2030 Strategy, adopted in 2019. Notably, this is the first time Seychelles has been represented at such a high-level inland transport forum.
The high-level segment, themed ‘Successes and Challenges for Inland Transport on the Road to 2030’, reviewed ITC’s contributions, achievements, and challenges in advancing inland transport goals.
Minister Derjacques participated in Ministerial Roundtable II on Climate Action, where he outlined Seychelles' unique challenges as a small island developing state (Sids) and the country’s commitment to climate-resilient transport systems.
“Seychelles’ inland transport network is vital for connecting our people, communities, and industries. However, as an island state, we face serious threats from rising sea levels and coastal erosion,” Minister Derjacques stated. “Most of our roads are built along the coastline, and with increasing storm surges and flooding, our infrastructure remains at constant risk. It is imperative that we implement both soft and hard engineering solutions to protect our critical road network.”
In his intervention, the minister underscored Seychelles’ efforts to transition towards sustainable inland transport, emphasising the government’s push for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, expansion of energy-efficient public transportation, and exploration of a light railway system to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.
“We are incentivizing the adoption of electric vehicles and modernising our public transport system to make it more energy-efficient,” he remarked. “Additionally, we are exploring the development of a light railway system to connect the northern and southern regions of our main island. This would not only enhance mobility but also significantly cut down transport-related emissions.”
Minister Derjacques reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to international climate goals, highlighting the country’s pledge under the UNDP and UNFCCC frameworks to reduce carbon emissions by 26.4% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Beyond mitigation efforts, the minister stressed the need for climate-resilient road infrastructure, outlining strategies for sustainable road maintenance, eco-friendly construction materials, and long-term adaptation plans.
“Reducing congestion and ensuring our roads are resilient will not only lower emissions and improve air quality but also enhance road safety,” he said. “This aligns with our national Road Safety Targets for 2021–2030, reinforcing our commitment to a safer and more sustainable transport network.”
The minister concluded by calling for greater international cooperation to address the existential threats facing Sids, urging global partners to support Seychelles’ sustainable transport initiatives.
“Climate change poses an existential threat to Sids in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean,” he emphasised. “I posed this question to the International Court of Justice in December 2024, and I ask it again today: Must our people face displacement, or will the global community provide the necessary support to safeguard our islands, our people, and our future?”
Minister Derjacques expressed Seychelles’ appreciation to UNECE for providing a vital platform to exchange ideas and collaborate on transport solutions that advance sustainability and resilience on a global scale.
Contributed