Small island developing states tackle climate change through sustainable development
The climate is changing, that there is no doubt about. Nature Seychelles has been on the forefront of efforts to adapt to a changing climate. We made Cousin island Special Reserve the first carbon neutral nature reserve in the world. We have restored the Roche Caiman wetland so that it now efficiently absorbs not only increased rainfall and runoff from roads and car parks but also carbon from the atmosphere. Our Reef Rescuers project (Restoring Coral Reefs In The Face of Climate Change) is a world pioneering activity that is growing climate resilient reefs to face an uncertain future.
But climate change is complex and sometimes difficult for many people to wrap their brains around. Regular reports of extreme weather patterns has made it simpler for the general public to understand and in many cases, experience firsthand what has made scientists, conservationists and lobby groups hot and bothered about global warming in the last few decades.
As Nature Seychelles’ CEO Dr. Nirmal Shah heads to Samoa as a member of the Seychelles delegation for the third UN conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be held from the 1st to 4th of September, it is worth shedding some light on a few areas of global warming, especially as concerns Seychelles, a small island developing state.
Unlike what the term suggests, global warming does not imply that the whole world will experience hotter climate. This phenomenon means that the heating up of the earth is responsible for the severe and volatile global weather patterns such as flooding, colder winters, earthquakes, droughts, tsunamis and so forth.
The main human activities driving climate change are: the burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the industrial revolution, commercial breeding of cattle, which produce methane (greenhouse gas), cutting down of forests that would otherwise absorb carbon dioxide, which in turn raises global temperatures.
Undeniably, the earth’s climate has always changed, but in the last 150 years following the industrial revolution the changes have occurred so fast that the natural earth systems cannot adapt.
Developed states’ years of industrialization is the main trigger in global warming, yet the injustice is that people from developing nations are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Developing states are less able to adapt to the effects of climate change and also have less clout compared to their wealthier counterparts when it comes to formulating and implementing international policies on climate change.
Even so, developing states, Seychelles included, have not taken an apathetical stance in dealing with climate change.
In the recently published ‘Maison Queau de Quicny’ outcome document by the national Seychelles SIDS youth, they categorically stated “We want to be the small island developing state that conserves and protects its national heritage which is the very agent for attraction to tourists. We have an Energy Policy that allows the possibility for clients and electricity consumers to invest and use renewable energy technologies in order to cover their electricity needs. This in turn allows us to reduce the amount of electricity which is generated by use of carbon dioxide emitting diesel generators.”
Small Island developing states and other developing nations are turning to renewable energy recognizing that it would be unsustainable and more detrimental if their economic development was modeled to that of industrialized states of burning coal and clearing forests.
The central theme for this year’s SIDS conference is ‘The sustainable development of small island developing states through genuine and durable partnerships’.
This international conference will address political commitment, gaps, challenges, opportunities and areas of priority for the sustainable development of small island developing states. Nature Seychelles will continue its pioneering efforts to move environmental protection to the next level of sustainability to adapt to climate change, with the support of much needed funding for these world-class projects.
Photos: 1. Small holder farmers in developing states feel the brunt of climate change (ifad) 2. A dramatic visual on clumate change (Guyana chronicle) 3. Severe flooding in the Caribbean island nation Dominica experienced in 2011- one of many devastating effects of climate change (Desmond Brown IPS News) 4. A Seychellois family on La Digue watches the water rise after heavy rainfall early during the flood emergeny in January this year (Seychelles News Agency) 5. Tokelauns perform a warrior dance as part of the Pacific Warrior Day of Action, to promote action against climate change-ifad (350.org)
