2009 environmental round-up

Seychelles Nation: - 31.12.2009
The year of the climate change campaign
2009 could be called the year of the climate change campaign, in the lead-up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December.

During the year, President James Michel increased his efforts to make the world aware of the vulnerability of small island states to climate change.

In January at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, he said the world has failed to understand the limits of the planet, and he also made a link between climate change and food security at the World Food Summit.

At the Copenhagen summit at the end of the year, the President emphasised the need for developed countries to shoulder their responsibility to stop climate change. His special adviser, Dr Rolph Payet, took the message as far as the Arctic Circle during a United Nations meeting there.

On the ground, inroads are being made in rising to the challenge of global warming. A welcome step was made with the signing of an agreement between the government and  Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy organisation, to examine the feasibility of wind power in Seychelles. 

The programme to make Cousin Island Special Reserve the first carbon-neutral island in the world attracted the attention of CNN and other regional and global media, and this 40-year-old nature reserve also earned the description “one of the world’s great conservation success stories”.

Several non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross, the Scouts, Wildlife Clubs and Sustainability for Seychelles organised awareness campaigns to educate various sectors of society on the impacts of climate change.
The Earth Hour, an international event to draw attention to global warming, was introduced to the public by Nature Seychelles and the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation.

Government restructuring has led to new institutions and new opportunities – for example the Seychelles Agricultural Agency was set up to give a new direction to agricultural development in the country.

Soon after that, it started to create links with the environment by signing a memorandum of understanding with Nature Seychelles and launching the Heritage Gardens at Roche Caïman, for example. 

The Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) was set up incorporating the Centre for Marine Research and Technology/Marine Parks Authority (CMRT/MPA), and is now the agency responsible for land parks, including the Vev Reserve, and for marine parks.

Several major research projects have been started, for example by the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles on sharks and by the Seychelles Islands Foundation in the Vallée de Mai, during which a new population of Seychelles endemic Sooglossus frogs was discovered.

Studies on the coral reefs around Curieuse were conducted as part of the coral and coastal ecology project that the SNPA has with the Earthwatch institute.

The Seychelles Bureau of Standards announced the approval of several new environmental research projects by overseas researchers.

Biodiversity conservation projects continued to deliver excellent results. The Island Conservation Society conducted courses on island ecology for local stakeholders and launched a workshop on island restoration.

The international project carried out by the UK organisation DICE and Nature Seychelles with Denis Island’s management to rescue Seychelles’ most endangered bird, the  paradise flycatcher (vev), had its first success with the breeding of introduced birds on the island.

Some exciting new funding opportunities for environmental projects have been introduced into the country this year, especially for NGOs.

The Regional Programme for Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zones of the Indian Ocean Countries provided two types of grants to NGOs, ones working on coastal zone management and another for those in marine protected areas.

The Mangroves for the Future project, managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided several small grants, again mostly to NGOs working on activities in the coastal zones.
Meanwhile, ongoing large projects funded by the Global Environment Facility and carried out by the UNDP and the government continued to support consultancy studies to help in managing land use, mainstreaming biodiversity in productive sectors and other key areas.

The environment’s link to tourism has been strengthened. The Seychelles Islands Foundation’s new visitor centre at the Vallée de Mai Unesco World Heritage Site was opened by Mr Michel, the SIF’s patron.

It houses an education and information centre to engage visitors, promote conservation and diversify SIF revenue. 
Aldabra atoll was designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site of International Importance in recognition of its outstanding value for conservation.

The call for responsible tourism was launched by Nature Seychelles and the Seychelles Tourism Board in the presence of Vice-President Joseph Belmont and national partners.

The year 2009 was one of celebrations as well. In June, the CMRT/MPA (now the SNPA) celebrated the 30th anniversary of three of its marine protected areas – Cap Ternay, Port Launay and Curieuse.
Various activities were organised over a month, including an open day on Curieuse where the renovated Doctor’s House was reopened by Minister Joel Morgan.

The Department of Environment announced that in partnership with the Ramsar Convention secretariat, the international launch of Wetlands Day 2010 will be in Seychelles, with a week of activities to be held.

Several Seychellois environmentalists received honours. Dr Payet was cited by the UN for his work on climate change policy, and Ronnie Renaud, chief executive of the national parks authority, became the first Seychellois to become a WIO-PRO – the professional certification given to marine protected area managers by WIO-COMPASS, the only programme that provides such certification in the world.

And Nirmal Shah, the chief executive of Nature Seychelles, was elected for a three-year term as president of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, becoming the first citizen of an island state to be elected to lead this important organisation.

School children voice concerns on climate change

Seychelles Nation - 21.12.2009
A group of students from all schools on Mahe met recently at a one-day conference
to voice their concerns on climate change and set up projects to reduce its effects.

Dr Payet addressing the audience at the conference

Held at the National Theatre, Mont Fleuri, the conference followed a call for action by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) world conference on education for sustainable development held in Bonn, Germany, earlier this year.

That conference involved youths in designing and drawing up projects on sustainable development.
During the recent conference here, the students listened to presentations on the causes and effects of climate change and their relevance to biodiversity, marine life, water and sustainable living.

Their views and concerns were compiled and submitted to the National Climate Change Committee members who took part in the Copenhagen Conference, as well as to local policy makers and Unesco.

Through group work, the students were able to start on different themes – such as a sustainable lifestyle for children to fight climate change, and schools and climate change mitigation and adaptation – to prepare them for International Year of Biodiversity in 2010.

In his opening remarks, President James Michel’s special adviser on the environment Dr Rolph Payet said that being a small island state, Seychelles is vulnerable to the effects of climate change and there is a need to change our way of life and be more resilient.

“We need to educate our young people on its effects and help them understand that we will need to change our way of life to adjust to those changes,” he said.

Threat of rising seas looms over coastal Africa

From:Reuters

* Coastal residents say sea levels already rising

* 56 million people live in low-lying coastal areas

* Major lagoon cities such as Lagos could be submerged

By Tim Cocks

ABIDJAN, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Africans living on the coast, who face the loss of their cities, homes and livelihoods to rising seas, are less interested in haggling over greenhouse gas emissions than getting aid to move to higher ground.

Speaking as talks on a global climate deal in Copenhagen ran into disagreements over how to share the burden of emissions cuts, some residents of low-lying coastal Africa said they had more pressing concerns.

"We want the authorities of the world powers to come and rescue the poor people from the sea," said Diakite Abdullaye, 46, looking over his shoulder at the ruins of a house he said had already been destroyed by the advancing ocean.

"If they can't stop the sea rising, then help us move somewhere else," said the resident of Ivory Coast's biggest city.

Rising sea levels caused by the melting of polar ice caps are seen by climate experts as largely unavoidable for centuries to come, even if substantial cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are made.

"Like a slowly boiling kettle, the oceanic system has very long response time to changing conditions and the seas will go on slowly rising for centuries even if all greenhouse gas emissions stopped tomorrow," wrote Mark Lynas, a British climate expert and author who advises the government of the Maldives.

The U.N.'s climate change panel in 2007 predicted global warming would raise sea levels by between 18 and 59 cm (7 and 24 inches) this century. Many climate scientists believe the estimate is conservative, and a rise of a metre or more is likely.

Either way, it could spell disaster for much of coastal Africa, especially densely populated tropical West Africa whose economic centres sprawl along the coast.

The United Nations estimates Africa has 320 coastal cities and about 56 million people living in "low lying" coastal zones, those less than 10 metres above mean sea level.

ENCROACHING TIDE

Some expects say sea levels have risen by about 20 cm since the start of the Industrial Revolution in northern Europe.

That is no surprise to residents of Abidjan's Port Bouet, where abandoned concrete shacks litter the beach. Some have lost their front walls. Scaffolding is all that remains of others.

"Twenty years ago the sea was far away from here," said Samassa Awa, 39, an unemployed nurse whose wooden shack has been flooded by the Atlantic many times. "You see all these destroyed houses? Many people fled but we decided to stay."

Poor planning and the haphazard construction of homes on reclaimed land subject to erosion has compounded the problem.

In Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, millions may have to move. The city is home to 15 million people spread over creeks and lagoons. The Lagos state government has been battling to reinforce the long sand spits that protect the mouth of the main lagoon from the Atlantic.

Gilbert Pandy, a resident of the Congolese capital Brazzaville, said advancing seas had washed away a village cemetery. "We are exposed to a disaster ... Sadly, no one cares," he said.

Africa's island paradises such as the Seychelles could be among the first to suffer.

Rolph Payet, an adviser to the government who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore for his work on climate change, told Reuters half of the Seychelles' islands were barely two metres above sea level.

"All of our infrastructure, telecommunications, fuel, ports, airports, are located on the coast," he said, adding that tourist resorts in outlying islands risked being submerged.

"The most frustrating thing is that we can do something. If an asteroid hits the planet, fine, we will all be doomed, but we are in a situation where we can actually solve the problem." (Additional reporting by Richard Lough in Antananarivo and Christian Tsoumou in Brazzaville; editing by Andrew Dobbie)

President drives climate message home

From: Virtual Seychelles

President James Michel was on Wednesday scheduled to address the Copenhagen summit and hammer home his call for the urgent need to counter climate change.

He has, over many years, been beating the warning drum, and the global audience was expected to be more attentive and action-oriented as efforts to reach a new agreement replacing the Kyoto Protocol reached a climax.Mr Michel led Seychelles’ high-level team including Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan, who arrived there on Tuesday.In the team were secretary of state Jean-Paul Adam, the President’s special adviser Dr Rolph Payet, our ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Ronny Jumeau and principal secretary for environment Didier Dogley.Also present will be Wills Agricole from the Department of the Environment, who is our focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Lyndy Bastienne representing non-governmental organisations.Parties to the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol are expected to agree on a “package” of outcomes defining the international response to climate change for the coming decade. Seychelles, as a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, is proposing a reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations to below 350 parts per million and a global average temperature no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.A press release from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Transport said: “Parties will have to agree on a coherent financial architecture for climate change, guided by agreed principles and with equitable governance and simplified access procedures.

“This should aim at ensuring the provision of direct access to funds, and that funding provided specifically for climate change adaptation efforts is not simply subtracted from existing development assistance.

“Seychelles will push to ensure there is enough funding commitment for both adaptation and mitigation measures for vulnerable and most-affected countries.”

Seychelles accepting 'sinking feeling'

From: SciTechbox

DENIS ISLAND, Seychelles – Camille Hoareau stands on Denis Island's bank of creamy-white sand, absolutely area copse acclimated to abound a few years ago and area the angle will anon bathe if all-around abating surges on.

"See those? They all went bottomward recently," he says, pointing to the chaotic roots of casuarina copse felled by the ever-advancing beach.

Hoareau believes this baby privately-owned coralline island in the arctic of the Seychelles archipelago has diminished by a few acreage already back he became acreage administrator seven years ago.

"The accomplished point of the island is about 2.5 metres (eight feet), so it doesn't booty continued for an island like this one to be swallowed up," he says.

Scientific analyses factoring in melting glaciers and ice caps, added baptize from Greenland and Antarctica and thermal amplification of abating ocean baptize adumbrate that sea levels could acceleration globally by up to two metres this century.

For many, altitude change charcoal a hardly abstruse angle that may one day absorb accessory sacrifices such as active electric cars and affairs solar panels.

But for the Seychellois and added bodies active on below islands, altitude change is a actual affair that actually knocks on their advanced aperture every morning and poses a actual existential question.

"Where will the baptize be in 10, 15 years? All-around abating has afflicted our point of appearance on a lot of things," says Paul Horner, the administrator of Denis Island resort.

"The after-effects are already lapping my advanced backyard so now I'm architecture a home for the accouchement in the mountains" on one of the Indian Ocean archipelago's granitic islands.

A two-metre acceleration in baptize levels would calmly flood the runways of the all-embracing airport -- which brings in the tourists that annual for 80 percent of the country's adopted bill balance -- and put the basic Victoria at risk.

As a all-around accord to radically barrier carbon emissions in Copenhagen looks annihilation but certain, the Seychelles fears that tourists will anon crave diving accessory to access their apartment in the archipelago's abounding affluence hotels.

"Time has run out... Even if we are accustomed a actual ample sum of money, how are we activity to anticipate a apple ancestry armpit like Aldabra atoll from activity under?," asksSeychelles Environment and Transport Minister Joel Morgan.

Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Ocean islands such as Barbados, Kiribati and the Seychelles feel let bottomward by the world's rich, big-polluting countries whose elites like to absorb their holidays on their beaches.

At a acme in New York in September, the Alliance of Baby Island States (AOSIS) issued a acknowledgment belittling the planet's powerhouses for sealing their doom by changing about the affair of carbon emissions.

We are "profoundly aghast by the abridgement of credible appetite aural the all-embracing altitude change negotiations to protect... accessible countries, their peoples, culture, acreage and ecosystems from the impacts of altitude change," they said.

At the key UN altitude talks involving 190 nations in Copenhagen, baby islands were the aboriginal to put advanced a abstract calling for huge all-around carbon emissions and ambition a cap of 1.5 or two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit ) in all-around warming.

Several canicule into the meeting, island states were accomplishing what their best to accomplish their choir heard.

A boyish citizen of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific asked Australia to acceptable her nation's approaching altitude refugees. The tiny Pacific archipelago Tuvalu took on giants China and India and alleged for a abeyance of the conference, and the admiral of the Maldives, the acclaimedIndian Ocean day-tripper paradise, fabricated addition amorous appeal, weeks afterwards captivation a chiffonier affair beneath water.

For his part, Seychelles Admiral James Michel hopes to affect on apple admiral that they too accept a lot to lose from absolved altitude changes, admitting a few decades afterwardsbaby islands accept been wiped off the map.

"We will lose big, but we will abide to altercate our case afore the world's powers. We feel that we are actively underestimating the abeyant impacts of altitude change, which may end up costing the planet a lot more," he said in a account to AFP.

Michel's appropriate adviser on altitude change Rolph Payet, whose role as advance columnist of the Intergovernmental Panel on Altitude Change won him the Nobel Peace Prize forth with above US carnality admiral Al Gore in 2007, takes the appearance that baby nations can accomplish the best by themselves.

"Even if we do article now, we won't see the appulse for addition 20-25 years, but we accept to act," he says. "We are blame for anybody to do that, to advance in sustainability, like abating the coastline."

Looking at the collapsed copse bordering his shrinking paradise island, Camille Hoareau is crumbling no time and alive relentlessly to win his own chase adjoin the altitude clock.

"Here we accept a arrangement on Denis island, area attention is chip in the way the auberge is run. Tourists accord to the accomplishment in the amount they pay and it's acceptable added and added important to them," he explains.

"The best aegis adjoin abrasion is trees, so we accept to bulb as abounding as possible... I don't apperceive what's activity to appear out of Copenhagen, but appropriate now it's about bodies demography responsibility."

UniSey offers wide range of new courses

 Seychelles Nation - 11.12.2009
The new degree courses to be offered by the University of Seychelles (UniSey) next year have been presented to post-secondary students at a meeting.

These courses were explained by the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet recently at the UniSey campus auditorium, Anse Royale.

Dr Payet said UniSey is ready to offer the new programme, which will start in September next year and give post-secondary students from the School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) and the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) more options.

He said there will be a new degree programme in the Faculty of Humanities, which will include courses in banking and finance, and economics and finance.

These courses will be run in partnership with the London School of Economics, and they are targeting students who have gained very good grades at A-level, Dr Payet added.

He said degree courses in English, history, geography and the environment for teachers and others are also on offer.
Dr Payet said the university will start new courses in the field of tourism, but they are still negotiating on these with the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and more details will be given later.

They will include degrees in business administration and tourism management, to be conducted in partnership with the University of London.

He said the Faculty of Science will introduce a degree course in law to meet current demand, and the university will discuss this with the judiciary.

Dr Payet also said there are part-time courses in computing and IT at diploma and degree level next year for technicians who are not able to attend full-time classes.

“We have managed to make some progress since the start of the university this year, and we have enough lecturers and capacity to run the new courses,” said Dr Payet.

He added that the faculty will soon meet S5 students to present the courses to them so they have a better idea of what the university has to offer.

UniSey is now offering foundation studies, bachelor of business administration degrees with final year specialisation in marketing, international business, human resources management or business management, and degree courses in computing and information systems.

UniSey gets 54 scholarships and new website

Seychelles Nation - 07.12.2009
The University of Seychelles (UniSey) has been given 54 scholarships, nine by private organisations and 45 by the government.

Christian Cafrine, chief executive of the National Human Resources Development Council, and the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet signed a memorandum of understanding for the scholarships on Friday when Dr Payet also launched UniSey’s website: www.unisey.ac.sc

Among those who witnessed the signing and the launch at the National Institute of Education were Education Minister Bernard Shamlaye and members of the university’s board, its deans of faculties, students and their parents and representatives of the sponsors.

Dr Payet said the first ever UniSey students are about to finish their first term and “in three years’ time we will have the very first graduates from the university”.

He said the value of UniSey to the economy of Seychelles is starting to show, and the university is generating interest from different quarters including the private sector, which came up with the nine scholarships.

Dr Payet said he hopes for a total of 20 next year and noted that the university will grow when the School of Education is launched.

“In a couple of years we should be welcoming students from beyond our shores,” he said.

Efforts will continue to ensure the best level of education at the university – which has a partnership with the University of London – as steps are taken to see it gets its own buildings, he said.

He urged the students to take their studies seriously, reminding them that the three years will be a short but important period.

Disaster looms with rising sea levels: islands

From AFP Global Edition 

Rising sea levels that could wipe whole nations off the map and displace scores of millions of people are being overlooked in global climate change talks, island countries said Tuesday.

Major emitters are pushing for greenhouse gas emissions cuts that are too low to prevent devastating sea rises, representatives said at the World Ocean Conference in Indonesia's Manado city.

"Dealing with environmental refugees will have a much more serious impact on the global economy and global security in fact than what wars have ever done to this planet," said Rolph Payet, a presidential adviser from the African island nation of the Seychelles.

Other nations under threat from even small rises in sea levels include the Pacific island states of Kiribati and Tuvalu, while heavily populated low-lying areas such as Bangladesh's coastline would also go under.

The five-day conference has attracted hundreds of officials and experts from 70 countries and is being billed as a prelude to December talks on a successor to the expiring Kyoto Protocol.

Payet said there had been "zero" serious discussions in top international forums on how to deal with massive flows of "climate refugees" from low-lying and drought-prone areas.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted in 2007 that up to 150 million people could be displaced by the effects of climate change by 2050, which include sea level rises of as much as 59 centimetres (23 inches).

The Alliance of Small Island States is pushing for 85 percent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But Payet said the December talks in the Danish capital Copenhagen look set to produce an emissions cut target that would be too low to avert disaster.

The European Union has promised to reduce its emissions by 80 percent by mid-century and US President Barack Obama has proposed his country make an 83 percent cut.

But the details of any global agreement that would include major developing nation emitters such as China remain unknown.

Copyright 2009  AFP Global Edition

Trainee teachers briefed on UniSey courses

Seychelles Nation - 03.12.2009
Students from the National Institute of Education (NIE) yesterday learned more about the teacher training courses on offer at the University of Seychelles (UniSey).

Dr Payet, flanked by Mr Souffe (left) and Dr Ah-Thew,(photo above) addressing NIE students at yesterday’s talk

They were also briefed by UniSey vice-chancellor Dr Rolph Payet on how they will continue the training they have started at the NIE.

The talk took place at the NIE in the presence of principal secretary for education Jeanne Simeon, dean of the School of Sciences Dr George Ah-Thew, dean of the School of Humanities Dr Gerard Adonis and institute director Alex Souffe.

The students learned that the university’s School of Education will offer a four-year degree course in early childhood and primary education.

And those who want to teach at secondary level will be able to choose a three-year subject specialist degree that will be followed by a one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Dr Payet said this specialist degree will be offered in a variety of subjects such as English, French, history and geography, and the university also plans to offer a master’s degree in education at a later stage.

He said these courses will be run in partnership with the Edith Cowan University in Australia, the University of London and the University of Reunion.

Dr Payet said students who are not admitted to the degree programme after the two-year foundation studies will be able to do another year and gain the assistant teacher certificate.

But he said this will be determined by the Ministry of Education, and UniSey will be working closely with the ministry to develop teacher training and help to raise the standards in our schools.

“The quality of teachers determines the quality of education that our children get in schools, and the training will help to upgrade our teachers,” he said.

Dr Payet told the students that the School of Education will give them a chance to get a recognised graduate teacher qualification, and even teachers with families will be able to graduate.

He said soon the students will apply to the university, and the faculty will meet them on an individual basis to discuss the courses.

All the training courses will start in January and February next year and will be based at UniSey’s Mont Fleuri campus, the current NIE complex.

Dr Payet said yesterday’s meeting was held because there was much misunderstanding regarding the transition that trainee teachers will make. During the talk the students were able to ask questions and seek clarification on the changes.

Today Dr Payet will meet students from the School of Advanced Level Studies to brief them on the new courses on offer next year.

President Michel at world food security summit

Seychelles Nation - 16.11.2009
President James Michel has been invited to address the World Food Security Summit at the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation headquarters in Rome, Italy which will be held from today to November 18.

The President will speak before the summit about Seychelles’ food security concerns, the effect of climate change on agriculture and availability of arable land as well as the impact of piracy on the fishing industry.

“In the run up to Copehangen, the lack of progress towards a legally-binding agreement for the Copenhagen summit has underlined the needs of Small Island Developing States to continue to press the developed world to address climate change as a matter of urgency,” a communiqué from State House quoted President Michel as saying.

Speaking soon after he ended a visit to Les Mamelles on Saturday morning, hours before leaving for Rome, Mr Michel told journalists that representing Seychelles at the World Food Summit is another opportunity to call the world’s attention to the concerns of Seychelles and other small island states.

“As President I feel it is my duty to represent Seychelles at the highest level at this important summit and champion the cause of small island states,” said Mr Michel.

He said it is the only way to get the attention and support of industrialised countries.

Noting that climate change impacts heavily and alarmingly on many countries’ food production, more particularly that of small island states like ours, Mr Michel said the world has to know that we need help to innovate and keep on producing to maintain our food security.

More than 60 world leaders are expected at the Rome summit, including Pope Benedict XVI.
The President’s delegation includes Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan, and Special Adviser for Environment Dr Rolph Payet.

Following his visit to Rome, the President has also been invited as a guest of honour to the Lebanon 2020 National Summit in Beirut. President Michel has been asked to share the experiences of Seychelles in sustainable development and environmental protection policies, and will be a keynote speaker at the summit.

Island legislators from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to address climate change

From: e-Parliament

Meeting in Vanuatu will spell out responsibilities of legislators to help reduce emissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3rd 2009

Legislators from island nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific are gathering in Vanuatu between November 6 and 8 to hear how they could supply electricity to their nations without harming the planet.

The 15-20 politicians will be addressed by experts in renewable energy - wind, solar, and biomass – and will hear about possible policy options. The idea is that they will then return to their home parliaments to introduce this legislation.

The hearing will be held at the Melanesian Hotel in Port Vila and the legislators will be addressed by the following experts:

• Dr. Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of the Seychelles, summarising the findings of the latest IPCC report on the impacts of climate change on island states as well as adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Thomas Lynge Jensen, Environment and Energy Policy Specialist, UNDP Pacific Centre, will talk about access to electricity in rural areas, using Fiji’s Rural Electrification Program as an example.
• Rupeni Mario, Senior Advisor, SOPAC, on the benefits of linking different renewable energy sources into mini-grids.
• Molipi Tausi, Energy Planner, Tuvalu Ministry of Works, Water and Energy, on how Tuvalu plans to reach its target of 100% renewable energy by 2020, how the plan was developed and how other islands could do the same.
• Stefan Schurig, Climate and Energy Director, World Future Council, on Feed-in Tariffs and other finance mechanisms which can help to encourage renewable energy uptake.
• Cristelle Pratt, Executive Director, SOPAC, on the importance of building local knowledge and expertise in renewable energy technology and policy, and how legislators can encourage this in island states.

Legislators will be coming to the hearing from the following countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Comoros, Cook Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Kiribati, Mauritius, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Vanuatu.

While most of the hearing will take place at the Melanesian Hotel, the legislators will also be taken to a windfarm and biofuel plant near Port Vila.

The hearing has been convened by the e-Parliament, an international forum for the world’s democratic legislators, and the World Future Council, an organisation which endeavours to ensure that the interests of future generations are taken into account by the politicians of today.

It is the 18th hearing in the e-Parliament’s history. Previous hearings have resulted in action being taken by legislators to combat climate change in African and Asian countries.

This particular hearing is one of a series of nine funded by the European Commission and the Swiss Development Agency (SIDA) for African, Caribbean and Pacific Island legislators on the subject of ‘Energy Access for the Poor’. Previous hearings in the series have taken place in Kenya, Ghana, Tobago, Guyana and Mozambique.

Next year e-Parliament energy hearings will take place in Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Tanzania.

NOTES

Available for telephone briefing prior to the hearing:

Jasper Bouverie, Communications Director, the e-Parliament

Susana Guerreiro, Programme Officer, the e-Parliament

Président Michel rencontre le Président de l’Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne -

Seychelles Nation 15.10.2009
L’annonce d’un nouveau partenariat entre la Sorbonne et l’Université des Seychelles
Avant de s’envoler pour l’Asie, pour la Corée du Sud et la Chine précisément, le Président James Michel s’est entretenu à Paris avec le Président de l’Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, le Professeur Jean-Claude Colliard.

Les entretiens se sont déroulés lundi en présence du Ministre de l’Education, M Bernard Shamlaye, le Président-Vice Chancelier de l’Université des Seychelles, Dr Rolph Payet, ainsi que l’ancien ambassadeur de France aux Seychelles, M. Marcel Surbiguet, qui est Conseiller auprès de la Fondation de l’Université des Seychelles.

L’Université de Paris est l’une des plus anciennes et prestigieuses institutions universitaires du monde qui a formé de nombreuses hautes personnalités françaises et d’ailleurs.  Sa formation  fait autorité dans les domaines des sciences sociales et des sciences humaines. Elle abrite aussi l’Institut de recherche et d’études approfondies en tourisme (REST) avec lequel l’Université des Seychelles désire nouer un solide partenariat.

Les entretiens de lundi ont porté essentiellement sur la façon dont les universités françaises pourraient apporter leur appui à l’Université des Seychelles notamment dans les domaines touristique et maritime.

Le Président Michel a déclaré lors de la rencontre qu’ « un partenariat stratégique avec les universités françaises contribueraient à l’épanouissement de la langue française, l’une de nos langues nationales, et permettront aux Seychelles de bénéficier des savoirs et du savoir-faire français et francophone. »

Président Michel rencontre le Président de l’Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

 Seychelles  Nation - 15.10.2009
L’annonce d’un nouveau partenariat entre la Sorbonne et l’Université des Seychelles
Avant de s’envoler pour l’Asie, pour la Corée du Sud et la Chine précisément, le Président James Michel s’est entretenu à Paris avec le Président de l’Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, le Professeur Jean-Claude Colliard.

Les entretiens se sont déroulés lundi en présence du Ministre de l’Education, M Bernard Shamlaye, le Président-Vice Chancelier de l’Université des Seychelles, Dr Rolph Payet, ainsi que l’ancien ambassadeur de France aux Seychelles, M. Marcel Surbiguet, qui est Conseiller auprès de la Fondation de l’Université des Seychelles.

L’Université de Paris est l’une des plus anciennes et prestigieuses institutions universitaires du monde qui a formé de nombreuses hautes personnalités françaises et d’ailleurs.  Sa formation  fait autorité dans les domaines des sciences sociales et des sciences humaines. Elle abrite aussi l’Institut de recherche et d’études approfondies en tourisme (REST) avec lequel l’Université des Seychelles désire nouer un solide partenariat.

Les entretiens de lundi ont porté essentiellement sur la façon dont les universités françaises pourraient apporter leur appui à l’Université des Seychelles notamment dans les domaines touristique et maritime.

Le Président Michel a déclaré lors de la rencontre qu’ « un partenariat stratégique avec les universités françaises contribueraient à l’épanouissement de la langue française, l’une de nos langues nationales, et permettront aux Seychelles de bénéficier des savoirs et du savoir-faire français et francophone. »

Ocean and Climate Change

Theme 3: Ocean and Climate Change – the impacts on and from the Ocean: Adapting coastal communities to sea-level rise

Keynote Speech – Dr Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of Seychelles.

UNESCO General Conference 13 September 2009

Distinguished Delegates

Millions of people on the planet now live on the edge of the abyss. The polar people and polar bears are seeing the ice melt before their very own eyes, and island people are seeing their land swallowed up by the sea, sometimes in a blink of an eye.

The ocean is the window to present and future climate change. To predict the onset of the cyclonic seasons, El Nino and other natural phenomenon, scientists turn to the oceans. The oceans are the earth’s barometer and heartbeat. We need to take heed of its signals. Recent studies strongly indicates that sea levels are rising much faster than estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We are now looking at a rise of more than 1.4 meters by 2100, assuming that the melting glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland do not accelerate. The World Bank estimates that a 10% increase in storm surge intensity would place 52 million people at risk of inundation.

These observations are unprecedented in human history. They are clear signals that something is desperately wrong with our planet.

Delegates, distinguished participants - we are living on borrowed time.

The outcome of the Bangkok meeting last week was dismal and as described by the Alliance of Small Island States - a last ditch attempt at ‘backsliding’ on existing climate commitments rather than seeking how we can resolve this crisis. It is essential that we build upon, not weaken, the existing climate framework. Derailing the climate change talks will place our planet, our homes, our people and our livelihood in jeopardy. The planet is now on the brink of a global shift in climate and although the science is compelling and the economic costs of inaction staggering, the international community is caught in an impasse over the commitment of larger economies to address the issues of mitigating causal emissions and adapting to impacts and threats proactively.

The people of planet earth needs a firm promise; an unrivalled pledge to cut ‘real’ emissions to safe levels. A firm deal in Copenhagen will be a deal for all humanity.

Copenhagen has to be the turning point – for you and for me, for your children and for mine. It took more than forty years for the international community to start paying serious attention to the issue of climate change, and the evidence is sufficient to require urgent action by world leaders. We now need concrete action, we need an overall reduction of at least 85% in global emissions below 1990 levels by 2050. According to the Stern Report, business as usual is likely to cost the planet between 5 and 20% of global GDP per year, with the poorest sharing the largest proportion of that cost.

There is no doubt that the solution to climate change on the other hand will cost, but it will not hurt the average consumer in the developed world. In fact recent studies have shown that the cost to developed countries for achieving a 40 per cent reduction by 2020 is as low as 0.5 to 1.5% of GDP.

The impact of climate change on the oceans will result in profound changes in the livelihoods of millions of people around the world. The effects which include sea level rise threathen to displace entire island nations and millions of coastal populations living along the world’s major delta’s. The warming of the ocean is already evident in the migration of many fish species northward. Ocean warming will further lead to increased stratification, changing circulation patterns of ocean currents, reduce sea ice, increase coral bleaching and mortality, and increased algal blooms and movement of invasive species. Ocean acidification as a result of increase CO2 in the atmosphere will also have disastrous consequences for marine populations and species, especially coral reefs, crabs, lobsters, shell fish and so on. These dramatic changes in the ocean food chain will lead to substantial changes in fish stocks as well as availability of food to coastal populations.

Delegates

Indeed, the Seychelles suffered as a result of the 1998 Indian Ocean coral bleaching event, where in some areas we lost almost 90% of coral cover. This was the first major recorded mass coral bleaching event in the history of Seychelles, and indeed we have had repeated bleaching since 1998. Shifts in fish populations have been observed, and although there is recovery in some areas, scientists are of the view that coral reefs are on the brink of a major collapse in some areas of the world. The implications will not only be the loss of food sources but also increases in coastal erosion.

Estimates assembled through the expert opinions of 372 coral reef scientists and managers from 96 countries, and reported in the Status of Coral Reef of the World 2008, by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, reports that the world has effectively lost 19% of the original area of coral reefs with more than 35% under threat from direct human impact in the next 40 years. These experts further highlighted the number one threat to coral reefs as being climate change.

Worldwide, marine and freshwater fisheries generate over US$130 billion annually, employ at least 200 million people, and feed billions of people reliant on fish as an important source of protein. A report by the UN published earlier this year noted that the worst effects of a combination of climate change, over-harvesting, bottom trawling, invasive species infestations, coastal development and pollution are concentrated in 10 to 15 per cent of oceans -far higher than previously thought. Combined with the effects of climate change – the results would be disastrous.

Naturally our knowledge on how the oceans will respond to climate change is limited, but recent observed evidence strongly shows how dramatic the changes can be and how the ocean can redefine humanity in an instant. Many Pacific and Indian Ocean islanders stand to lose their entire territory as a result of sea level rise, many millions will lose access to food, and still many more will be displaced as climate change refugees.

Indeed, our efforts at the World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia, in May earlier this year (2009) resulted in the Manado Declaration which urgently called for co-ordinated action to reverse the impact of climate-change on the oceans and for the issue to be substantively included in ongoing climate talks. This was further highlighted by the UNFCCC Executive Secretary last week in Bangkok, whereby oceans feature in the climate change talks and addresses issues such as vulnerable coastal communities, subsistence fishermen, enhancing capacity building, the importance of marine and fisheries researches to support policy implementation and adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands, in which UNESCO acts as Co-Chair has been instrumental since 2002 in mobilising the world’s governments to address issues related to oceans, coasts, and small island developing States – and climate change has become a top agenda item. These issues were tabled as part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Small Islands States meeting in Mauritius, and at the recent UNESCO experts meeting in Monaco on climate change and arctic sustainable development, thus showing the vital link between oceans, climate change and sustainable development.

We cannot achieve the MDGS and other targets without maintaining focus on sustainable development. Linking climate change to sustainable development is a key area in which UNESCO can continue to play a growing role. Only by bringing together the science, the education and the role of societies can we effectively overcome man’s greatest challenge in this decade. Global warming is already affecting developing countries’ ability to develop. As pointed out in a 2007 New York Times report investigating the climate divide, a country like the United States with agriculture accounting for only 4 percent of the economy, is far more able to endure climate shocks than a country like Malawi with a 90 percent rural population and 40 percent of the economy dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Under growing population pressure, the additional stressors – and largely unknown costs - imposed by a changing climate threaten to constrain or even roll back hard-won progress towards achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The transformation we need is a jump towards a decarbonised planet. Our dependence on fossil fuel-driven technology and expansion of unsustainable global trade has heightened irresponsible consumption, undermined national food security and recklessly mortgaged our planet. Ironically the oceans can also be a potential carbon-free and renewable source of energy.

A new paradigm which stimulates social conscience and the required transformation is indispensable. We need new models of finance that will stimulate expansion of the world economy towards sustainable consumption and fair flows of wealth and resources. Transfer of key technologies and innovations to neighbours and partners will facilitate adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Imposing this burden to solve the climate change crisis to developing and poor nations will not resolve the crisis. By far the largest per capita generators of greenhouse gases are in developed countries and decisive leadership is needed. Shifting the burden beyond 2020 is also not acceptable. We are responsible for the state of the planet and we should take responsibility for our actions. To solve climate change and tame the oceans needs the unparalleled commitment of developed countries.

Thank you

Activities of Secretary-General in Norway, 30 August – 2 September

From: UN

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, arrived in Oslo, Norway, late in the evening of Sunday, 30 August, on his way to the Polar Ice Rim.

The following morning, he met with Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, over breakfast.  They discussed Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Myanmar, as well as sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Secretary-General then met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.  Their discussions focused mainly on climate change issues, including the need to mobilize political will and create confidence-building measures between the developed and developing countries.

After that meeting, the Secretary-General and the Norwegian Prime Minister held a joint press conference.  The Secretary-General said he was very much encouraged by Norway’s strong support for the United Nations and by the Prime Minister’s promise that morning that Norway would be able to reach 1.1 per cent of its gross domestic product to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals.

Later, the Secretary-General attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Monument of the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, Trygve Lie.  He then met with members of Norway’s Parliament, discussing with them climate change, including carbon trading, United Nations reform, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the situation of Iranian refugees in Iraq.  Before leaving Oslo, the Secretary-General had a luncheon hosted by King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

The Secretary-General, accompanied by the Minister of the Environment, Erik Solheim, left Oslo for Longyearbyen, on the Svalbard archipelago.  There, he boarded the Coast Guard ice-breaker KV Svalbard for an overnight trip to Ny-Alesund, north of the archipelago.

On Tuesday morning, after arriving in Ny-Alesund, the Secretary-General visited the Korean Polar Research Institute’s station in this Norwegian settlement.  He then went on to visit the Norwegian Zeppelin station.

The Secretary-General then made his way further north to the Polar Ice Rim, on board the KV Svalbard.  As he stood on the ice, he urged world leaders to take action against climate change.  “The Arctic is ground zero for analysing the impact of climate change.  In the Arctic, climate change is accelerating much faster than in any other region in the world,” he said.  “We do not have any time to lose,” added the Secretary-General at the Polar Ice Rim.  “The time is short.  We must seal the deal in Copenhagen in December, a deal which will be comprehensive, equitable and balanced, so that both industrialized and developing countries, and all citizens of the world can live in an environmentally sustainable way.”

On Wednesday morning, the Secretary-General travelled back to Longyearbyen.  He visited the Global Seed Vault, which contains seeds from around the world, with the Norwegian Minister for Food and Agriculture, Lars Peder Brekk.  Noting that the seeds stored in the Vault came from virtually every country in the world, he said they contained the essential characteristics that plant breeders and farmers would need to ensure that crops become climate-ready and even more productive.  “Sustainable food production may not begin in this cold Arctic environment, but it does begin by conserving crop diversity,” he added.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12432.)

The Secretary-General then held a press conference during his visit to the Polar Ice Rim, at the Svalbard Science Centre.  He said his trip allowed him to see for himself “just how much damage this fragile environment, particularly in the Arctic, has suffered, because of climate change”.  Calling for leaders to seal a deal in Copenhagen, he said:  “We have to act.  We have to pool all resources and demonstrate our will.”

The Secretary-General also participated in a mini-seminar at the University Centre in Svalbard with Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of Environment, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Former Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and Rolph Payet, environment adviser to the President of Seychelles.

Later that afternoon, the Secretary-General left Longyearbyen for Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr Payet sees melting of Arctic icecap at first hand

Seychelles Nation- 07.09.2009
President James Michel’s special adviser on the environment, Dr Rolph Payet, was in a group led by United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon last week to see at first hand the melting of the Arctic icecap.

Dr Payet was representing the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the visit to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, about 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole.

The visit, from Monday to Wednesday, was arranged ahead of a number of high-level conferences which Mr Ban is hosting to ensure there is a concrete outcome of the December climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Also in the group was the Norwegian Minister for Environment Sheila de Coultier, representing the Arctic peoples.

Describing the visit, Dr Payet said: “To see climate change happening is to see how fragile our planet is. Both the Arctic and the islands are at the frontlines of climate change – a solution for climate change is also a solution for the vulnerable and the poor.”

In a panel discussion at the University of Svalbard, the world’s northernmost university which has about 200 students, Dr Payet spoke of the links between climate change in the Arctic and in the tropics, and relationships that could be developed with the new University of Seychelles.

He emphasised that we have the technical know-how to bring down emissions of greenhouse gases to 40% below 1990 levels – a position adopted by the Alliance of Small Island States in their negotiations on climate change.
He also said the developed countries have the means and the technology to reduce carbon emissions to safe levels but expressed concern that they are playing the waiting game – a game that will cost many millions of people their livelihoods, homes and even motherland.

Dr Payet said Seychelles’ leadership in the climate change negotiations was acknowledged, and further support will be given to help the SIDS in the negotiation process and also in addressing adaptation to climate change.

Mr Ban gave his assurance that the UN is doing all it can to address climate change and will continue to support the vulnerable. He asked the SIDS to persevere in their quest for a concrete outcome of the Copenhagen conference.

UN Secretary is troubled and alarmed by global warming

From: University of Svalbard

The secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, visited UNIS today after seeing for himself the melting ice in the waters north of Svalbard. – I am troubled and alarmed by what I have seen.

Text: Gunnar Sand

The Arctic could be ice free by 2030, he said, and expressed deep concern about the development of the world climate.

Ban Ki-moon said that he would deliver the message to the world leaders in upcoming conferences. – We have the answers. We have the means. I hope you will all join me in the effort to save the world climate, for the sake of future generations and for our own, he said in front of a packed auditorium at UNIS this morning.

Former Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, spoke on behalf of the indigenous peoples of the world and urged world leaders to act now. She stressed that there must be more focus on humanity in years to come, not just industry.

Environmental advisor to the President of the Seychelles, Rolph Payet, said during his presentation that the Seychelles would be badly hit by a changing climate and asked world leaders to deal with the problem. To the audience of Longyearbyen he added that it was cold on Svalbard and he wanted it to remain cold.

The Norwegian Minister of Environment, Erik Solheim, addressed the students of UNIS during his presentation: - You are at the right place for studying the most important issue of our time. We need more knowledge in a variety of fields, Erik Solheim said.

UN secretary Ban Ki-moon met with the members of the student council at UNIS. From left to right:Johannes Lose, Benedikte Jarstø, Mari Berg, Max Janson, Marie Føreid, Benjamin Merkel, Ban Ki-Moon, David Hammenstig, Matilda Hallerstig, Alexander Pilditch.

New move to improve environment management

From Seychelles Nation - 10.07.2009
Seychelles has taken a new step to increase its capacity for effective ecological management, which covers national and global environmental issues.

This came with the signing on Wednesday of the second phase of a project designed to address specific issues identified in the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA).

This followed previous assessments of the Environment Management Plans of Seychelles (EMPS) that pointed to key institutional barriers within government, and between government and non-governmental organisations, limiting the effectiveness of the current EMPS operations.

The project – Capacity development for improved national and international environmental management in Seychelles – is based on the need to mainstream global environmental objectives into the EMPS, which is the main strategic planning and coordinating mechanism for environmental management in the country.

It is also based on the need to strengthen the capacity for integrated approaches that address climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.
It contributes to the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) strategic priority to boost capacity for global environmental management by strengthening the national institutional framework, technical skills and related capacities to manage commitments under the global environmental conventions in conjunction with national objectives.

The official agreement for the project was signed at Independence House by the special adviser for environment in the President’s Office Dr Rolph Payet – also the GEF’s operational focal point – and UNDP resident representative and resident coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles Claudio Calderone, in the presence of principal secretary for environment Didier Dogley and UNDP representatives.

Dr Payet said Seychelles is very proud that the GEF has recognised the country’s capacity and willingness to carry out such a project. As a small country, capacity is always on top of the agenda and is crucial in managing almost all areas, he added.

He also said the project will help Seychelles to better manage its resources at national level and to play a greater role at international level.

Dr Payet added that the project will support the ministry responsible for environment as well as other ministries and non-governmental organisations in their environmental and sustainable development-related duties.

On behalf of the UNDP, Mr Calderone said as a middle-income country Seychelles should not be penalised but should rather be helped with financial and technical resources that will boost its capacity to face environmental issues as well as other possible future concerns.

He described the collaboration between Seychelles and the GEF as another step forward in a fruitful relationship.

The project was proposed after the NCSA identified capacity shortcomings that limited Seychelles’ ability to realise national goals and international commitments.

The NCSA presented an action plan to address these needs and boost the national approach to global environmental management.

The plan addresses core aspects identified by the NCSA process – including four of the 10 priority issues – so as to build on the existing national foundation.

Benefits will be realised by linking national initiatives to international obligations, creating an enabling environment for enhanced stakeholder involvement, harnessing the country’s full capacities in coordinating and running environmental programmes and also bridging crucial capacity gaps.

The GEF’s sponsored project will run through a 36-month period at a cost of US $42,500.

Tidal nesting won't survive rising sea

From: Theday.com

By Judy Benson

Published on 6/5/2009

Stonington - Professor Chris Elphick leaned down to part some emerald tufts of salt meadow cord grass, exposing a rounded mat of gray, dried blades beneath, like a tiny upturned basket.

In a secret pocket such as this, he explained, a little brown, white and yellow bird with a whisper-soft song, some very unique behaviors and a most precarious future builds its nest.

”The first 20 nests are hard to find,” Elphick, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut, said. “Then you start learning some tricks. You get an eye for how the birds behave when they're near their nests.”

He pointed to a wisp flying low over the marsh, at the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area. It quickly disappeared into a patch of marsh elder. With just that glimpse, Elphick knew he had spotted a salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrow, an unassuming and previously little-known species he's devoted much of the last seven years to studying. As concerns about climate change and associated rising seas have grown, Elphick's work has taken on an increasing practical urgency, because the research has shown these birds are one of the most vulnerable species in the Northeast.

”He's done groundbreaking work,” said Patrick Comins, director of bird conservation for Audubon Connecticut.

Because up to one-third of the entire world population of this sparrow makes the Connecticut shoreline its home for mating, nesting and fledgling in spring and summer, Elphick's research has been done entirely at 45 salt marshes on the state's shoreline. Of those, he said, the three most important sites are Great Island in Old Lyme, Hammonasset State Park in Madison and the East River marsh in Guilford. After that comes Barn Island. Spring high tides over the last few weeks are an especially critical time.

”There are probably 200 to 300 of them here,” Elphick said, toting spotting scope and binoculars as he walked one of the paths between the marshes at Barn Island. “At the other three sites, there are probably a couple of thousand. This is a bird Connecticut has a lot of responsibility for, in a global sense.”

Victim of its nesting habits

No other bird species, Elphick contends, attunes mating and nesting around the spring high tides like this sparrow. Because the success of its offspring depends on getting the timing just right, any change in sea levels, no matter how slight, can make all the difference. That means that as climate change causes seas to swell, more water will flood the salt marshes where the birds nest than they have adapted to withstand.

”This species is doomed, even with modest sea-level rise projections, without drastic action,” Comins said. “I believe this species is the one most likely to go extinct in Connecticut in our lifetime” if nothing is done to save it.

”Almost every talk I give these days I mention the impact of climate change on the salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrow.”

Not recognized as a distinct species until 1995 - before that it was erroneously lumped with the Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow - the salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrow now commands the interest not only of Elphick and his graduate assistants, but of policymakers and wildlife experts concerned about the effects of climate change. Elphick's expertise has been called on by the state Department of Environmental Protection panel examining how wildlife is being affected by climate change and what steps the state should take to protect critical habitats.

”They live in a narrow band along the coast. For a bird that's a very small geographic range,” Elphick said. “They're so vulnerable to sea-level rise, because the difference between a good spot for a nest and a bad spot can be just a few centimeters.”

In other words, a sparrow that nests under a tuft of grass growing at a slightly higher elevation than another will see its eggs survive spring flooding, while a nest in the other may not.

Salt marsh sharp-tailed sparrows, Elphick said, build their nests high enough to be out of the water at low and mid-tide, but low enough to be concealed from predators. For one phase of his research, his team placed heat sensors on nests. By monitoring temperature changes, they were able to conclude that eggs in a nest can withstand being under water at high tide for 60 to 90 minutes. The mother bird must return by then to rewarm the eggs, or they will drown.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rolph Payet explained the human failures which have led to climate change

From: 7th Space Interactive

Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rolph Payet explained the human failures which have led to climate change and outlined his blueprint to overcome them at a special lecture in London.
At the event on 28 May he also launched and praised the new postgraduate distance learning module Climate Change and Development, which is run by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Dr Rolph Payet (left) being presented with one of CeDEP's distance learning module study packs by Professor Andrew Dorward (right), Academic Director, Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, part of the School of Oriental and African Studies.

 

Payet, from the Seychelles, was the lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and he shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize jointly awarded to the IPCC and Al Gore. He is also a University of London External System alumnus.
During the lecture organised by the University of London External System, the London International Development Centre (LIDC) and the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy (CeDEP) at SOAS, Payet set out his ambitious hopes for the UN climate change conference in December. He wants the Copenhagen package to include:
- Agreeing on mechanisms that would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases to 350-400 parts per million.
- Applying the polluter pays principle.
- Valuing the ecosystem in investment projects.
- Promoting sustainable green jobs.
The Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of the Seychelles emphasised the benefits of adopting multidisciplinary and integrated approaches towards climate change and development. He explained how climate change mitigation and adaptation are not mutually exclusive and how strategies such as coastal tree planting can benefit both mitigation and adaption efforts. Payet said he saw the current economic crisis as an "opportunity" to reassess the existing global economy and he has "hope" for the future.
His lecture, delivered at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, charted the "mistakes" which have led to climate change and are posing threats to small island states like the Seychelles. He spoke of the root causes of carbon emissions, including:
- Not paying the real environmental costs of human actions.
- Over-consumption.
- Failure to drive technological innovation.
- Lack of political solutions.
Payet illustrated the gross distortions in global consumption patterns: how the richest 20 per cent of the world's population consume 86 per cent of goods and services and 58 per cent of all energy supplies. His lecture also referred to the Icarus effect - how people do not react until they fly too close to the sun. Another warning referred to the prediction that sea level rise could cause the mass migration of 602 million people as land disappears and becomes uninhabitable. Payet added: "The issue of climate change is a wake-up call. Climate change has shown that actions in your homes have an impact upon me. We need to move away from thinking in silos and have to admit to our weaknesses before we move forward."
The new Climate Change and Development distance learning module, run by CeDEP, was also launched at the event entitled Countdown to Copenhagen: What Next for Climate Change and International Development? Payet said the module would help students and professionals to approach the complex issue of climate change and development in a multidisciplinary way and encourage them to ask the right questions. The module provides a foundational understanding of core natural and social science processes and of technical and policy issues, and will be available worldwide from February 2010.
Notes to editors
The London International Development Centre (LIDC) is a collaborative project which brings together social and natural scientists from across the University of London's six Bloomsbury Colleges (Birkbeck, Institute of Education, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Royal Veterinary College, School of Oriental and African Studies, and The School of Pharmacy).
LIDC aims to:
- Develop high quality interdisciplinary research between the Colleges and other parties.
- Develop new and innovative teaching programmes to support development goals.
- Inform national and international policies on development through linking research, policy and practice.
- Build capacity in low- and middle-income countries to address the needs of higher education and research institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and governments.
To find out more about LIDC, its activities and events visit: www.lidc.org.uk
For further information contact:
Guy Collender
Communications Officer
London International Development Centre
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7958 8260
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 3073 8303
Binda Rai
Head of Global Media and Public Relations
University of London External System
Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8545 (office)
+44 (0)7920 476483 (mobile)

Fisheries to be hit hardest by climate change

Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, 16 May, 2009 (IUCN) – The World Ocean Conference was a significant step towards protecting our oceans, but human pressures on fisheries need to be addressed urgently, says IUCN.

The main highlights of the World Ocean Conference (WOC) hosted by the Government of Indonesia were the adoption of the Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD), a joint statement to work together in safeguarding the function of the oceans in climate change mitigation and adaptation to be put forward in Copenhagen (COP15); and the Coral Triangle Summit where the Heads of states from the six countries involved in the Coral Triangle Initiative signed the first inter-state agreement in the coral triangle towards conservation efforts, supported by an NGO Consortium, as well as a concurrent three-day International Symposium on Ocean Science, Technology and Policy.

90 % of pollutions in Oceans comes from land, and 25 % of the CO₂ from human activities ends up in the ocean. Fisheries are on the frontline of climate change impacts and the coastal communities will be the ones hit the hardest. Coral bleaching as a result of sea temperature rise, increased run-off from land due to increase in percipitation coupled with human induced activities such as overfishing, destruction of mangrove forests and seagrass beds which are important fish spawning grounds will further jeoperdise fish stocks. 

“1.5 billion people depend on fish world wide… Killing the Environment is as serious as killing your neighbour”, says Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President, Seychelles and Chair and CEO, Sea Level Rise Foundation.

As fish stocks decline, fishers move out of their ecoomic exclusive zones (EEZ). Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is a serious threat to the sustainability of fisheries globally.  According to a Study of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Arafura Sea by the Indonesian Minsitry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries launched at the conference, the overall loss from IUU fishing in the World Ocean Conference’s host country is USD 2 billion per year. In Indonesia the region most at risk from IUU fishing is the waters around North Sulawesi where the World Ocean Conference took place.

Traditional fishermen from North Sulawesi gathered in the Manado harbour during the conference, to protest against IUU and to urge the ministers and official delegates at the conference to touch on the important issues such as how to protect small scale traditional fisheries from IUU fishing and bigger companies.

The Global Ocean Policy Day provided and ample opportunity for a multistakeholder policy dialogue on oceans, climate and security among high-level government officials together with NGOs, industry and scientists to not only discuss the impacts of climate change but the adaptation and mitigation strategies as well as financing issues.

Bernard Giraud,Director for Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility, DANONE Group and IUCN Councillor, said “We need more private/public partnerships in order to mitigate climate change” in his speech at the Global Ocean Policy day.

“The message coming from Manado is clear-  the state of our oceans is a reality and it is only going to get worse in the face of climate change, but if we take consertive acion now  we may have a better chance of being able to cope with the effects of climate change. The Manado Ocean Declaration is proof of the willingness and commitment to do just that” says, Don Macintosh, Coordinator for the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Initiative.

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

Minna Epps, IUCN Asia Media Relations, m +66 87082 3331, e minna@iucnt.org

Photos/Audio/Video material are available at/from: www.iucn.org/asia

About IUCN

IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges by supporting scientific research; managing field projects all over the world; and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN, international conventions and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.

The world's oldest and largest global environmental network, IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists and experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. IUCN's headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.

www.iucn.org

Rolph Payet warns of fisheries over-exploitation and added consequences of climate change

Highlights for Thursday, 14 May 2009

From: Earth Negotiations Bulletin

On Thursday, 14 May 2009, the World Ocean Conference 2009 (WOC2009) continued its deliberations in Manado, Indonesia. At the Grand Kawanua Centre, participants attended the Ministerial/High Level Meeting, which included an opening plenary, thematic panels on issues surrounding oceans and climate change, and a closed session to adopt the Manado Ocean Declaration. Meanwhile, a variety of side events were held throughout Manado, including: the Manado Ocean Festival; the International Ocean Science, Technology and Industry Exhibition; UNEP Ecosystem-Based Management for Regional Seas; and an event on engaging the private sector in sustainable fisheries management. In the evening, delegates attended a gala dinner hosted by the President of Indonesia.

In front of a backdrop of ocean life, Freddy Numberi, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia, introduced the President

Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, spoke about the specter of climate change confronting our oceans, and his hopes for the Manado Ocean Declaration

Click "play" on the applet below to listen to the song "Save Our Planet" composed by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia and performed by the Manado State University Choir

Depending on the bandwith of your Internet connection you may have to wait a few minutes before the song starts.

President Yudhoyono inaugurated the World Ocean Conference

Flanks of media captured President Yudhoyono's address to those assembled for the World Ocean Conference

Mr. and Miss North Sulawesi 2008 contemplate the future of our oceans

Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Australia, urged delegates to take active steps to address oceanic impacts of climate change rather than leave this task for future generations

Ambassador Melba Pria, Mexican Ambassador for Indonesia, presented on the threats to the ocean

Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of Seychelles, warned delegates that the consequences of fisheries over-exploitation may be further exacerbated by the implications of climate change

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Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), presented on the challenges of climate change

L-R: Laurent Stefanini, Ambassador for the Environment, France, Heherson T. Alvarez, Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change, the Philippines, Patricio Bernal, UNESCO, Freddy Numberi, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, US, addresses the audience in a televised speech

Delegates gathered for a plenary on the effects of climate change on the oceans and coasts

Images from "Skies and Oceans," an exhibition of artwork contributed by 100 children from 20 countries on the theme of ocean resources conservation (a joint initiative of the International Ocean Institute and the World Meteorological Organization)

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Theme Three Panel L-R: Rachmat Witoelar, Minister of Environment, Indonesia; Alfadil Ali Adam, Under Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Sudan; Patricio Bernal, Assistant Director General, IOC-UNESCO; Angela Cropper, Executive Director for UNEP; Freddy Numberi, Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia; Gellwynn Jusuf, Ministry for Marine Fisheries Research, Indonesia; Ida Kusuma, Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia

Call to save 'dying oceans'

From Aljazeera

A minor rise in sea level could see most island nations under water within this century [AFP]

Indonesia's president has called for a concerted move to save the world's oceans from being destroyed by the effects of climate change, but made no mention of his own country's failings in nature conservation.

In an address to the World Ocean Conference in the Indonesia city of Manado on Thursday, Susilo Bambang Yudhyono called for a global effort to "rescue the oceans" describing it as "a life and death issue for the community of nations".

He said the world's oceans faced a raft of threats from over-fishing, over-exploitation, the extinction of marine species, pollution, and the impact of climate change causing sea temperatures and sea levels to rise.

"We must save them from the ravages of abuse and over-exploitation by humankind, from the havoc due to pollution and dire effects of climate change," he said.

"Today it is time for the world to hear yet another important message: that we can only survive the 21st century if we are united in caring for and preserving our oceans."

Indonesia's failings

Pollution in Indonesia has reached
alarming levels [EPA]

Yudhoyono however avoided mentioning his own country's failings in conserving its environment, ranging from rampant illegal logging to overfishing and the destruction of coral reefs through the use of bombs.

Greenhouse gas emissions from extensive logging of Indonesia's tropical forests have pushed the country to become the world's third-largest emitter behind the US and China.

Illegal fishing and pollution are also widespread, with garbage and diesel oil clogging the waters at Manado's harbour close to the conference venue.

Scientists have warned that hundreds of millions of people will be at risk unless drastic action is taken on climate change.

Hundreds of officials and experts from 70 countries are in Manado for the conference, the first global meeting on the link between oceans and climate change.

The five-day conference is being billed as a prelude to talks in December in Copenhagen which is expected to adopt a new commitment on emission cuts to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Islands going under

Earlier this week envoys from several island states warned that the issue of rising sea levels, which threatens to wipe whole nations off the map and displace millions of people, was being overlooked in climate change talks.

Overfishing is just one of many threats facing the marine environment [AFP]

The Pacific island states of Kiribati and Tuvalu face a serious risk by even small rises in sea levels, while major cities and densely-populated coastlines from Bangladesh to West Africa could go under this century, the envoys said.

In 2007 the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that up to 150 million people could be displaced by the effects of climate change by 2050, which include sea level rises of as much as 59 centimetres.

Representatives from island nations say major emitters are pushing for greenhouse gas emissions cuts that are too low to prevent devastating sea rises.

The Alliance of Small Island States is pushing for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 85 per cent by that deadline.

Rolph Payet, a presidential adviser from the African island nation of the Seychelles, said the issue of what will happen to millions of people fleeing rising waters and droughts, and how to resettle whole nations which could vanish under the waves has been ignored.

"Dealing with environmental refugees will have a much more serious impact on the global economy and global security in fact than what wars have ever done to this planet," he said.

"We have been talking about war refugees, crisis refugees, but not environmental refugees ... it is not an accepted UN word."

Scientists: Rising Seas Pose Serious Threat for Island Nations

From: Voice of America News

By Solenn Honorine
Manado, Indonesia
13 May 2009

A boat is seen against condominiums in the waters off the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, 13 May 2009

Small island nations and coastal states are on the frontlines of global warming: as temperatures and sea levels rise, some countries could be lost entirely. Scientists and politicians have gathered in the Indonesian city of Manado for the World Ocean Conference to discuss ways to reduce the damage from climate change.
Life and death issue
For the inhabitants of small islands, climate change may be a matter of life or death. Rolph Payet, an advisor to the president of the Seychelles, says that in his country, rising sea levels will be catastrophic.
"In the Seychelles for example we have 90 percent of the people who live on the coastline. This is where all the infrastructure is, where the housing are, all the communication, shipping, the airport is there. So it's as if you have to start the whole community from scratch, and that's going to cost a lot of money. We're always the ones losing out, and it's always the same people winning," said Payet.
What role do seas play in global warming?
Scientists and government officials from around the world are meeting this week in Manado, Indonesia, at the World Ocean Conference. They hope to work together to better understand the role of the seas in global warming, and reducing its effects.
For small island nations, the problem is called the climate divide. Rich countries emit the most greenhouse gases, which are thought to contribute to global warming. But it is mostly poor, developing countries that will pay the heaviest cost of global warming.
Dessima Williams, president of an association that represents 44 small island nations, says that rich countries should not turn a blind eye to their fate.
"We are on the frontline, as small island states, we are going to get the brunt of it first .... But everybody is getting some of it. So we are not taking a high moral ground, we are simply taking a practical position that is: 'we are first [to suffer from global warming], but yours is coming. So you address ours, you reduce yours.' It's common sense," said Williams.

Environmental refugees could be huge concern
Rolph Payet says that the world should be wary of the creation of millions of potential "environmental refugees" - people who will have to flee as the seas rise above their homes.
"Climate change will have a huge impact on world security," said Payet. "I mean, you can just imagine: most of the world's cities and capital are built along the coast! So what we're dealing with today in Iran or Afghanistan may be peanuts compared with what will happen from a great mobilization and a great migration of thousands of people who live by the coast."
Small island nations are asking that stricter carbon emission caps be in the agreement that will replace the Kyoto protocol on climate change. But it is not clear that larger nations will agree to cut enough to slow global warming. They hope to find common ground in December in Copenhagen where the world will discuss the future policies on climate.

Las pequeñas islas Estado están en proceso de desaparecer bajo el mar

Océanos-conferencia 

 

From: Terra Noticias

Las Maldivas, Seychelles, y otras paradisíacas islas Estado desaparecerán bajo el agua este siglo y sus ciudadanos se convertirán en apátridas, a menos que se consiga frenar pronto la subida del nivel del mar, denunció hoy el colectivo de naciones afectadas por este fenómeno propiciado por el cambio climático.

'Estamos ante una grave amenaza: hablamos de personas que van a convertirse en refugiados, de Estados que pueden desaparecer completamente', aseguró hoy a Efe Rolph Payet, presidente de la Fundación contra la Subida del Nivel de los Mares.

Payet expuso el serio problema que se cierne sobre estas pequeñas naciones, en el marco de la Conferencia Mundial de los Océanos, que se celebra desde el pasado lunes en la localidad de Manado, al norte de las isla Célebes, en el archipiélago de Indonesia

'Hay que empezar a actuar ya, cuando aún queda algo de esperanza para algunos de los países afectados. Pero se nos está acabando el tiempo', advirtió Payet, quien a su vez es consejero especial del presidente de la República de las Seychelles, un grupo de 155 islas ubicadas en el Océano Índico, al noreste de Madagascar, y con una superficie total de 455 kilómetros cuadrados.

El presidente de la Fundación señaló que algunas islas han alcanzado 'el punto de no retorno' y alertó de que 'desaparecerán completamente' en unas décadas, como ha ocurrido ya con varias de ellas pertenecientes a Papúa Nueva Guinea, Maldivas y Seychelles, que han tenido que ser evacuadas.

En Indonesia, el mayor archipiélago del mundo, han desaparecido durante la última década más de una veintena de islotes, y los científicos prevén que pierda alrededor de un centenar de sus más de 17.000 islas a finales de este siglo.

'El problema va a ser cuando algunos países desaparezcan completamente. Esos ciudadanos no van a ser simplemente desplazados internos, van a ser apátridas', explicó Fayet.

Entre las naciones especialmente amenazadas por la devastadora subida del nivel de los mares se encuentran algunas de las que forman parte de la Federación de Estados de Micronesia, además de Tuvalu, Fiji y Kiribati, y de las turísticas Maldivas y Seychelles.

'Nosotros ya hemos planteado este problema en distintos foros internacionales, pero hay muchos obstáculos legales y políticos. ¿Vamos a comprar tierras en otro país para asentar a nuestros refugiados? Es muy complejo', argumentó.

En este sentido, el presidente de las Maldivas, Mohamed Nasheed, hace varios meses que examina esa posibilidad de adquirir territorio, y al parecer, ha mantenido negociaciones con India.

Para exponer y denunciar la situación, Fayet se reúne con las delegaciones de algunas de las 64 naciones que participan en la conferencia, una iniciativa indonesia que persigue llamar la atención sobre los efectos medioambientales, sociales y económicos del cambio climático en los océanos.

Este foro hará pública mañana la Declaración de los Océanos de Manado (MOD) con la que se quiere incluir la protección de los océanos en la agenda medioambiental de Naciones Unidas e influir sobre la conferencia de Copenhague de diciembre, en la que se acordará un protocolo que sustituya al de Kioto, que expira en 2012.

Para las islas Estado el principal problema que se deriva del cambio climático es la elevación del nivel de los mares, que según Naciones Unidas será de al menos un metro en el año 2100, y que redibujará las costas de estos países y anegará para siempre decenas de miles de hogares.

Pero de ese fenómeno tampoco escaparán otras naciones mucho mayores y más pobladas.

'Decenas de millones de personas en Bangladesh, el delta del Mekong, las costas del Sudeste Asiático y algunas partes de África se quedarán sin hogar', apuntó el presidente de la Fundación.

Naciones Unidas estima que una subida de un metro en el nivel de los mares hará que hasta 145 millones personas se conviertan en 'refugiados medioambientales'

'Solventar el problema de los refugiados tendrá un impacto muchísimo mayor en la economía y la seguridad global que todas las guerras que ha sufrido este planeta', aseguró Payet, quien precisó que a pesar de que el problema es alarmante, aún éste no se ha abordado en Naciones Unidas.

Además, destacó que las medidas de 'adaptación y mitigación' que se están planteando en la conferencia de Manado llegan 'demasiado tarde' para muchas islas y que la única solución es estabilizar en una primera fase, las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) para a continuación proceder a recortarlas.

Comprometidas con la lucha contra el cambio climático y el cumplimiento del Protocolo de Kioto, el colectivo de islas Estado apuesta por reducir en un 85 por ciento para 2050 las emisiones de CO2 y otros gases que provocan el