CLIMATE CHANGE IN SMALL BRANCHES: SEYCHELLES


of 115 islands in reducing its dependency on fossil fuel consumptions. Already wind turbines have been installed off the coast of the capital, Victoria to be another source of electricity. In the same vein, the President, Mr James Alix Michel announced in his National Day Address of 2015 that there is an elimination of taxes on electric cars and reduction of taxes on hybrid cars which have ecological and economical advantages. The government has introduced a renewable energy rebate scheme to encourage inhabitants to invest in photovoltaic (PV) solar panels for both residential homes and


businesses. The PV units harvest solar energy, which is then sold back into the national power grid managed by the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC). The prohibitive cost of buying and installing of the PV system has caused the government to subsidize the purchase of PV systems for under-privileged homes. In the future, all newly built residential homes and businesses will be required by the government to install PV panels.


However, funding remains a major problem for the implementation of all these projects. As of November 2015, the Green Climate Fund has


raised US$10.2 billion equivalent in pledges from 38 States to be used by Developing Countries. Seychelles is not relying solely on the Green Climate Fund for financing but has also agreed to an innovation US$30 million debt-for-adaptation swap with the Paris Club in February 2015. In February 2016, US$1 million was donated by the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, to Seychelles Climate Change Adaption Fund.


At the international level, Seychelles remains one of the leading countries in negotiations as part of the Alliance of Small Island State (AOSIS) group. It has taken the lead in advancing


the Blue Economy Concept which is the judicious use of marine resources for economic sustainability of marine states. As part of the AOSIS it relied on a strong commitment at the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in 2015 to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.


Seychelles is very concerned with the impact of climate change because it does not only threaten its livelihood but threatens it very existence as a Small Island Nation.


The Parliamentarian | 2016: Issue One | 27


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