Ministry of Environment Energy and Climate Change Leap towards Web App

Seychelles pristine environment is occasionally being affected by different kind of environmental negligence. Therefore the Ministry of Environment is counting on the support from the General public to report any environment-related incident through a web app Ecoalert, which was introduced by the Department of Information, Communication and Technology, last Friday during a press conference. The Ecoalert Web app was initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change which is now accessible to the public for reporting any incident which is illegal to the environment. This web app is accessible through a web page www.ecoalert.gov.sc on any web browser such as Smart phone, Laptop, Computer and Tablets this web app is not available as an icon in App Store or Google play store.

The Principal Secretary for Environment Mr. Alain Decomarmond, stated that this Web app is an additional reporting platform for the public, as Green Line (2722111), Ministry’s Website and Facebook are still operational, and the Ministry wants to broaden their option of communication.

“Green Line is operational 24/7, our staff respond to any incident that is being reported. We have even explored the option of WhatsApp in the past, unfortunately the Ministry has taken a decision to stop as we received tones pictures or messages that was not relevant to the environment. Therefore we gave thoughts that nowadays people are moving more towards technology and social media, then we had the idea of creating a web app which would be easy for people to upload pictures and videos.” Explained PS Decomarmond

Krisl Gopal the Principal Analyst from DICT, gave a small demonstration on how Eco alert functions. Simply upload video or pictures not more than 25 MB and select their location and describe the incident. Mr. Terry Mousbe, Program development Officer from the Ministry in the department of education declare that lack of man power prevent them for being all over the island each and anytime. Therefore he advised that they make good use of Ecoalert. 

Third Session of the Intergovernmental Conference

Third Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on an International legally Binding instrument (ILBI) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of Marine Biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ)

From 19^th-30^th August 2019, Seychelles participated in the negotiations of the third IGC-BBNJ session held at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The country was represented by PS Alain Decomarmond, DG BCM Marie-May Muzungaile (Environment Department), Senior Legal Officer Ms. Estelle Lucas (Blue Economy Department) from Capital along with officials from the Seychelles UN Mission based in New York. For the first time at this session delegated started text based negotiations on the draft treaty text. Particularly important for SIDS like Seychelles the issue of benefit sharing and technology transfer, establishing clear procedures for Environmental Impact Assessment in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction. Also together with Mauritius Seychelles is fighting for recognition of adjacent states as key players in the ABNJ particularly as it relates to our extended continental shelf and the Joint Management Area. There is expected to be fourth session of negotiations that Seychelles will have to be part of in Spring of 2020 (March 2020. If all goes to plan it is expected that BBNJ Treaty will be ready for signature late 2020, but there is possibility that a fifth session will have to be added or at least a certain level of intersessional work in order to complete some of the elements.

Moving Towards Renewables

“As part of our commitments towards climate change mitigation, Seychelles like other small island developing states have developed ambitious climate action plans also known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDC’s. A large component of our NDC centers on the transition from a fossil fuel powered society to one which is powered by clean and renewable sources of energy”.

Minister for Environment Energy and Climate Change Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, made the statement at the inauguration and handing over of the rooftop solar panels at the Barbaron Transit Home. Minister Cosgrow expressed his appreciation concerning the implementation of the Rooftop Solar Panels and stated that it is one component of a much larger project to install 2 megawatt of solar photovoltaic on selected government buildings and over 500 Homes.

Following his address the Indian High Commissioner H.E General, Dalbir Singh Suhag, stated “Seychelles is one of the founding members of the International Solar Alliance and will be availing Solar Implementations to the extent of USD 8.7 Million under this development partnership arrangement directly from the people of India. This would cover rooftop solar installations in various government building, housing units and even solar street lighting in various locations in Mahe, Praslin and La Digue”.

The delegation then proceed for a tour to view the installation of the Rooftop Solar Panels during the tour Minister Cosgrow was briefed on the status of those Solar Panels and the progress they have made. Present at the inauguration was Minister of Habitat, Land, Infrastructure and Land Transport Mrs. Pamla Charlette, Principal Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers from both Ministries.

14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

The 14^th Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the United Nations to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) took place from the 02^nd to 13^th September in India. “Restore Life, Sustain Future’” was the chosen theme for this 14^th Conference of the Parties. Seychelles ratified the Convention in 1997 and since then the Country through different schemes has undertaken several donor funded projects relating to land degradation project. The latter include those relating to Coastal erosion adaptation and rehabilitation programs, capacity building on Sustainable land Management and the development and implementation of Land Use Plans,

The COP’s High Level Segment was officially opened on Monday 9^th September by India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Parties to the Convention have agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030 a national target for action. Ministers also adopted the New Delhi Declaration “Investing in Land and Unlocking Opportunities”, the declaration consist of a series of 35 decisions. India the host of COP 14 announced its commitment to enhance implementation of the UNCCD among other actions. During COP 14, three ministerial roundtables and three high-level interactive dialogues as well as exchanges with representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs), the youth and the private sector.

The country parties discussed on the implementation modalities of the Convention for the next two years. More than 8,000 participants including more than 100 ministers and high-level officials attended the COP.

Seychelles were represented at the COP by Minister Wallace Cosgrow, Minister for Environment Energy and Climate Change (who attended the high-level segment from 09^th to 11^th September.  Mrs. Nanette Laure (The UNCCD National Focal Point for Seychelles) and Mr. John Quilindo (UNCCD Alternate Focal Point for Seychelles).  Mr. Selby Pillay (Seychelles Ambassador to India) also joined the Seychelles delegation at the official opening of the high Level Segment of the COP on the 09^th September.

Environment staff received their scholarship for Bachelor in Environment Science at UniSey

Three staff from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change today received their documents for full scholarship for Bachelor in Environment Science at UniSey. They will start their degree in September this year. Two more will join in 2020 and 2021. Their studies will be sponsored by the Environment Trust Fund. Both Minister Cosgrow and Mr. Matatiken, Chairperson of ETF, mentioned the need to keep building the capacity of our staff, especially those who have been working there for some years now. MEECC would like to wish them all the best. ETF also co-funded (jointly with NHRDC) a student who will also be specializing in another environment degree.

Sea Turtle Nesting

Sea Turtles plays a pivotal role in the world’s vast marine ecosystem. The Ministry of Environment, energy and climate Change implements its annual sea turtle monitoring programme during the months of October to March and throughout the year focuses on education and awareness raising campaign to sensitize members of the public about the important ecological as well as social and economic values of sea turtle conservation and protection.

Sea turtle are listed as endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)  due to their high risk of extinction contributed by increased poaching and over- exploitation, marine pollution, loss of nesting habitats, predation from animals both on land and the sea as well as the ever increasing climate change associated threats and impacts.

To compliment international efforts towards global sea turtle conservation, The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change has made significant contributions towards sea turtle conservation in Seychelles. Efforts have extended beyond the government, but through the continuous support from Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the Police Department and members of the public.  

This year as has been the case for many years now, from October 2018  towards the end of  March 2019 the Ministry implements its Annual sea turtle monitoring programme on key nesting beaches found on the  islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue with NGOs doing their own monitoring on other islands of Seychelles. Collaborations, education and enforcement have been key towards the decreased reported number of poaching incidents. Two official cases have been reported from October 2018 till now. This is not the end of our work as we aim towards better surveillance on our beaches, effective law enforcement, greater educational campaigns and national events and many others. Challenging but not impossible.

In addition the Ministry in collaboration with other key partners such as Wise Oceans Seychelles, MCSS, ICS, SIF organized many activities last year in celebration of the International Year of Reefs (IYOR 2018), International Biodiversity Day was dedicated to the important national contributions different organizations are making towards protection of marine ecosystems, different projects on reef restoration as well as significant efforts towards the fight against plastic pollution, and the Sea turtle Festival promoting the wonderful marine life with sea turtles .

The Ministry has worked persistently over the years by implementing and enforcing laws and penalties to protect the sea turtles. It is evident that there are small groups of people who are still failing to follow the protection measures and are willing to risk the long term conservation of these animals. However our efforts will continue and we will keep reminding members of the public that it is an offence to disturb, catch, injure, fish, kill, sell, purchase, receive or possess any turtle and strict penalties will be imposed on anyone who fails to do so.

The Ministry extends its deepest gratitude to everybody who continues to support sea turtle conservation in Seychelles.

For anyone who has any information on illegal activities pertaining to sea turtle, please contact greenline on 2722111 of the Office of the Biodiversity Conservation Section on 4670541 or 4670540.

Minister for Environment Energy and Climate Change attended the Assembly for IRENA

Minister Wallace Cosgrow attended the ninth session of the Assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) -the world’s principal forum for international cooperation on renewable energy-, among 120 Ministers and representatives from 160 countries around the world which began on 11th-13th January 2019 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates.

This Assembly is the Agency’s supreme decision-making body which brings together Heads of State, Ministers, government officials, and representatives from the private sector, civil society and other international organizations to reaffirm the global renewable energy agenda and make concrete steps to accelerate the global energy transition.

“Gender in the Energy Transformation” was the theme whereby the Assembly introduced topic which featured an interactive discussion on the gender dimension of the energy transformation.

Speaking at the Assembly, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Wallace Cosgrow, highlighted the different measures that the Government of Seychelles is undertaking to reduce the amount of imported fossil fuel cost of almost 1 Million US Dollars which will be ploughed back into renewable energy programs.

“Seychelles as a SIDS do not have much land, our pursuit for sustainable development means we have to weigh up all the resources available to us in our ocean, and take informed choices on how to develop them for the benefit of our country and our people. The Indian Ocean is at the crest of this wave, and with our leadership and commitment we can bring about this transformative change that we all believe in, hence the concept of the Blue Economy, In our effort towards better harnessing or territories wealth and energy resources, last year Seychelles Launched a tender for a 4 MW floating IPP PV project. The tender and project will represent a path-breaking opportunity for the eventual successful bidder as it will be first utility-scale floating solar PV project on sea in Africa”

The main objectives of the Assembly was to raise awareness on the importance of renewable energy and its impact on sustainable development, connect policy makers, experts and 3 innovators from many countries to learn from each other, share good practices and inform decision makers by identifying shared needs and finding common ground on shared priorities.

Overall mostly the Assembly's unlimited discussion featured presentations and provided opportunities for contributions from IRENA Member delegations, stakeholder groups and the private sector. Plenaries focused on aspects of the Agency’s work and actions by countries in the development and deployment of renewable.

Minister Cosgrow was accompanied by the P.S of Climate Change Mr. Wills Agricole, The Ambassador for UAE Mr. Jean Claude Adrienne and the CEO of Energy Commission Mr. Tony Imaduwa.