2024-03-28T23:36:38Zhttp://aquadocs.org/oai/requestoai:aquadocs.org:1834/3232021-01-30T18:47:34Zcom_1834_259com_1834_1337col_1834_260
Seychelles, Initial National Communication. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate change
The Republic of Seychelles acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the 22nd September 1992, being the second country to
do so. Likewise, the Seychelles was one of the earliest countries to sign the Kyoto
Protocol on the 20th March 1998.
The Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC by the Seychelles reflects our
continued commitment to the process. Although the guidelines provided for the
preparation of initial national communications by non-Annex I Parties do not place
much emphasis on issues of vulnerability, adaptation and capacity building, my
country is convinced that without sufficient attention given to these issues many small
island states will not be able to cope with the impacts of climate change.
The preparation of the National Communication enabled us to focus on issues that
link climate change to sustainable development, which were not given much attention
before. The process created awareness at all levels of government, local
communities, NGOs and the private sector, making it a truly integrated and highly
participatory engagement. Through the work of the National Climate Change
Committee (NCCC) and the study teams, which involved broad participation, several
studies and assessments were undertaken in order to ensure that this Communication
reflects clearly our situation, constraints and circumstances. The Communication
further reinforces our position as an insignificant emitter and a net sink of greenhouse
gas. Nevertheless, we have also identified areas for mitigation, for which we are
prepared to undertake consistent and meaningful actions.
Whilst the world continues to debate about global climate change and its effects,
small islands like the Seychelles are the most vulnerable, with increased potential loss
of coastal infrastructure due to sea-level rise. The socio-economic implications are
enormous. Amidst the range of uncertainties and the inability for science to provide
all the immediate answers, it is important that we build upon two principles adopted
in Rio (1992) and Kyoto (1997), respectively. The ‘the precautionary principle’,
emphasises that all countries urgently need to identify areas where they can reduce
GHG emissions through changes in policy and technology. Secondly, whilst it is
clear that climate change will occur despite measures adopted in the Kyoto Protocol,
there is an urgent need to ensure that developing nations, including Small Island
Developing States (SIDS), can continue to develop and prosper in an equitable
manner. Thus, SIDS need to be fully equipped, both financially and technically, to
adapt to global climate change and sea-level rise, without re-directing its limited
resources from sustainable development and the eradication of poverty, which is still
imminent in many island states.
It is, therefore, my sincere wish that this Communication has not only fulfilled our
requirements under Article 12 of the Convention, but also provided a better
understanding of the specific challenges faced and the efforts that have been made by
my country in coping with the increasing threat of global climate change.
Published
2005-07-12T11:40:52Z
2005-07-12T11:40:52Z
2000-10
Proceedings Paper
Non-Refereed
99931-814-0-4
http://hdl.handle.net/1834/323
en
958312 bytes
application/pdf
Seychelles
Ministry of Environment and Transport, Republic of Seychelles