‘Climate change is an existential threat to small island states’

The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Danny Faure, joined other world Leaders in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, for the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This is President Faure’s first appearance in a major international event since his assumption of office as the President of Seychelles.

Critical decisions to ensure the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and setting in place those mechanisms and modalities to help the Agreement to become operational are the major endeavours of COP22.

In his address during the High Level Segment of the conference held on Tuesday, President Faure called on the international community to formally re-embrace and commit to the outcome of the Paris Agreement with special attention given to small island developing states (Sids), like Seychelles, faced with the unique ravages of climate change.

“Like the many other small island developing states which are represented at this most important conference, the Republic of Seychelles views climate change as an existential threat.”

“For the very first time in history, a new global Climate Change deal, giving renewed hope to the world has been reached; we find ourselves at a crossroads and cannot afford to renege on our collective commitment to travel the moral path for the sake of humanity,” President Faure added.

“Seychelles, as a member of Aosis, is proud to have helped lead this effort, and the political momentum behind the agreement bodes well for its rapid implementation. This agreement unites the world in

action on climate change and on the push for sustainable development and economic transformation. It calls for a paradigm shift as we move from negotiations to implementation under the Convention here and calls for enhanced and accelerated climate action by all in the lead up to 2020 and beyond, provided that adequate means of implementation are made available to all,” said President Faure

Among other things, President Faure laid emphasis on the urgent and imperative need for means of implementation, in particular access to finance, capacity building, and technology, public and private investment, to be made available to Sids. This is indispensable so as to be able to advance their chances of mitigation and adaptation, to facilitate the promotion of renewable energy, to strengthen disaster risk management, and to leverage the use of the oceans to combat climate change; thereby building resilience in all sectors of their development.

“I launch an appeal to the international community to make available funds for climate financing with increased accessibility for vulnerable small island states like Seychelles. This will allow for continued development of Sids and the ability to aggressively transition to sustainable economies,” said President Faure.

Seychelles added its voice to that of its fellow Sids members to rally the much needed support of countries and development partners for their cause.

Forrás: www.nation.sc