As part of the Seychelles delegation, the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) participated in the 2024 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties, also known as COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, held from November 11 to 22, 2024.
While at the Conference, SeyCCAT, in partnership with the Pew Charitable Trust, hosted a side event entitled “Blue Carbon Ecosystems in NDCs: Implementing & Scaling Ambition across the Western Indian Ocean”. The Minister for Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change, Mr. Flavien Joubert, spearheaded the event by delivering the keynote address highlighting Seychelles’ progress in mapping the country’s seagrass ecosystems and its leading role in seagrass research within the Western Indian Ocean region.
Making reference to the Seychelles Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Minister stated, “In August 2022, we delivered our first NDC Commitment, becoming one of the first countries in the world to map the full extent of seagrass ecosystems across our EEZ of 1.3 million km2.” Minister Joubert added “Seychelles has delivered on its commitment to map the full extent of our own “blue carbon” ecosystems, and that approach is now having a regional impact.”
The event also featured a panel discussion that included representatives from the governments of Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The panelists presented best practices and future projects from their respective countries in the field of blue carbon research, policy, and community engagement. The focus was placed on enhancing blue carbon initiatives within the Western Indian Ocean Region and how these can be incorporated into the countries’ NDCs.
Led by the Chief Executive Officer, Ms Marie May Jeremie, the SeyCCAT team took part in various events at COP29, particularly, those focusing on climate financing. Ms Jeremie also represented SeyCCAT on a separate panel that discussed “Innovative Financing in Blue Carbon Ecosystems”. This event was organised by RARE, Conservation International and SeyCCAT’s other international partners.
Two weeks prior to the Climate Change Conference, SeyCCAT staff members also attended the UN Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP16, in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024. Ms. Jeremie and the Fundraising and Partnership Manager, Mr. Alain De Comarmond, were engaged in multiple events at COP16 alongside international partners in the sector. The two highlighted the groundbreaking work that SeyCCAT has accomplished in marine conservation and the blue economy in Seychelles. Furthermore, SeyCCAT emphasised the pivotal role of Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) in assisting their countries with meeting global conservation targets, namely the 30×30 target that requires countries to designate 30% of their land and ocean area as protected areas by the year 2030.
“Empowering SIDS through Conservation Trust Funds” and “Bridging Conservation and Communities” are two of the numerous events that SeyCCAT contributed to. At these events, the SeyCCAT representatives promoted Seychelles’ commitment to achieving set global targets. SeyCCAT reiterated Seychelles’ pioneering efforts, having designated 30% of its ocean space as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2020, 10 years ahead of the targeted year. The focus of discussions and engagements was centred on the identification of new financing and how SeyCCAT could tap into those resources.
SeyCCAT’s attendance at both conferences was an excellent opportunity to strengthen its existing partnerships and establish new ones. The trust fund’s participation at such renowned international conferences aims to increase the organisation’s visibility on a global scale, which then opens up access to funding opportunities that benefit the trust and, ultimately, marine conservation and climate action projects here in Seychelles.