SEYCHELLES TAKES CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT SERIOUSLY
SEYCHELLES TAKES CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT SERIOUSLY
In May 2016, the former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the 5th National Assembly of Seychelles to support the UN’s effort in tackling three critical challenges: climate change, global sustainability and easing humanitarian suffering. The call did not go on deaf ears. Following the election of the 6th cohort of the National Assembly in October 2016, the institution embarked on a series of projects showing its leadership in the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and adopting sustainable practices to showcase possibilities and hopefully inspire other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to do the same. In 2020, the 7th cohort of the country’s legislative body, comprising of 26 directly elected and eight proportionately elected MNAs, took office. Members are well aware that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as the Seychelles are among the most vulnerable and greatly affected by the negative impacts of climate change. The three main islands, making up the Seychelles archipelago, Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, where the MNAs’ constituencies are situated, have over the years witnessed the adverse impacts of climate change, related to rising temperatures, sea level rise and changes in rainfall patterns. The primary impacts have led to coastal erosion in constituencies including in Amitie and Anse Kerlan (Grand Anse Praslin), Au Cap, La Digue and North East Point (Glacis). Meanwhile, other coastal constituencies like Pointe Larue, Au Cap, La Digue and Providence (Cascade) suffer from recurrent flooding. Coastal erosion and massive flooding events are damaging critical coastal infrastructure such as airports, ports, desalination
plants, and main roads, utility lines (for both electricity and water), houses, hotels and other buildings. It should be noted that it is not only the state that must be held accountable for its contributions to climate change but also businesses based in each of the constituencies which have the responsibility to respect human rights and do no harm in the course of their activities. The country’s water security is also under threat of sea level rise which can cause saltwater intrusion in the underground water storage systems affecting water quality and availability, according to the Seychelles National Climate Change Strategy published in 2009. Seychelles’ massive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 1.37 million square kilometres of crystal-clear waters have suffered ocean acidification and coral bleaching, which have negatively impacted on the country’s natural beauty which tourists the world over come here for. Its outer coralline islands now commonly experience coastal erosion, storm surges and tropical cyclones. During the 2006-07 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, the intense tropical cyclone Bondo severely damaged buildings and vegetation on Providence Atoll, which is approximately 710 kilometres from the capital Victoria, on Mahé island. Ten years later, between 17th and 19th April, tropical cyclone Fantala, one of the most severe storms to ever hit the South-West Indian Ocean, twice passed near the Farquhar group, which is located 770 kilometres (478 miles) southwest of the capital. The storm caused widespread damage to nearly all private and public buildings, including the destruction of important desalination facilities (only four cyclone-proof facilities on the island survived),
Hon. Gervais Henrie, MNA is the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
of the Seychelles and he is the CPA Africa Region’s representative on the CPA Small Branches Steering Committee. He was first elected as a proportionately elected Member from 2007 to 2011. In 2016, he was elected for the district of Mont Buxton and in 2020, he became the first MNA to successfully defend his mandate in the constituency and return to the National Assembly as a ruling party. He is also an award-winning journalist with over 27 years’ experience.
30 | The Parliamentarian | 2021: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
