‘Climate change and sustainable development are part of the same challenge’- Minister Adam addresses Lima conference on climate change.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Paul Adam addressed the 20th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Lima, Peru where he emphasized the need for a consolidated effort by the international community to tackle climate change and view the fight as an indivisible component of achieving sustainable development.
In his remarks Minister Adam highlighted that sustainable development could only be achieved through the unrelenting pursuit of the international community in also finding solutions to address climate change. He added that Seychelles aligns itself directly with the remarks of the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the outcome of the meeting, held in Seychelles, emphasizing the need to accord equal importance to both mitigation and adaption practices in terms of climate change.
In the context of mitigation, Minister Adam noted the importance of accelerating near-term mitigation action based on science-based assessments of the projected impacts of carbon emissions. In addition, he also stressed the need to reassess the adequacy of current targets and maintained that Seychelles would be vocal in its plea in calling for the rise in global temperatures to be limited to below 1.5 degrees centigrade.
In relation to adaption, Minister Adam reiterated that SIDS would have to be innovative to overcome the adverse effects of climate change. He cited Seychelles’ attempts to pioneer a debt for climate adaption swap whereby debt relief would be used to finance the establishment of climate resilient marine protected areas as an example.
He welcomed the support from different partners on this initiative and and recalled the recent meeting between President Michel and President Francois Hollande of France where the two leaders also placed the development of such initiatives in the context of the development of the blue economy- a key component in efforts to build climate resilience while also fostering economic growth.
In the same vein, Minister Adam also stressed that developing nations were in need of capacity development, technical support and urgent funding if they were to adapt to a changing climate and in the process contribute to their own sustainable development.
Minister Adam also indicated that SIDS were encouraged by the capitalization of the Green Climate Fund, although he noted that a significant gap remains after 2020. He reiterated the need to prioritise funding for the most vulnerable nations amongst which feature the SIDS. The adoption of a vulnerability index would also ensure that targeted assistance is available for countries based on their legitimate needs.
Minister Adam noted the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement in Paris, which would be imperative in addressing the issues of climate change.
Minister Adam remarked “We understand the challenges that so many countries have to address to make sure that they can rise to the occasion. But we also understand the challenges that our planet faces. Ultimately we hope that we all understand that it is all part of the same challenge- that of sustainable development.”
Editor’s notes:
Please follow the link to view the webcast of the full speech as delivered to the meeting:
http://unfccc6.meta-fusion.com/cop20/channels/plenary-1