From Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th September 2024, the National Assembly of Seychelles hosted the Séminaire régional de coopération interparlementaire sur les changements climatiques, organised by jointly by the Commission de L’océan Indien (COI) and the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF).
The Opening Ceremony was comprised of interventions given by Chargé de mission de la COI Mr. Marc Maminiaina, Secretary General of the APF Mr. Damien Cesselin, Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Mr. Flavien Joubert, and Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles Hon. Roger Mancienne, in his capacity as Vice-President of the AP-COI. The objectives of the seminar include strengthening the capacity of Members of Parliament on climate issues, ensuring the creation of parliamentary mechanisms to ensure the longevity of such capacity building, and the exchange of best practices in all climate matters.
As part of the Gouvernance, Paix et Stabilité (GPS) Project, the seminar addressed pertinent topics such as crisis prevention, the preservation of ecosystems and natural resources, and the sustainable development of renewable energies and the legislation that governs them. A Round Table discussion of regional and national experts was moderated by Chargé de mission de la COI Ms. Gina Bonne, in which interventions were given by experts from Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius. It was underlined throughout that the consultation of NGOs, CSOs, and appropriate MDAs is a vital component in the progression of climate change legislation.
Leading the capacity building sessions was Ms. Stephanie Reiche De-Vigan, a climate expert from the APF and Senior lecturer in Law and Geopolitics of Climate and Natural Resources. Ms. Reiche-de Vigan hosted informative and engaging sessions which prompted the participants to express their concerns, experiences, and knowledge on the frameworks needed and challenges experienced in legislating climate change concerns. By virtual conference, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius Hon. Adrien Duval, in his capacity as President of the AP-COI, made an intervention in which he affirmed the importance of such regional seminars in enhancing the resources and means of developing relevant legislations for the benefit of the Indian Ocean region, as well as environmental protection globally.
The penultimate activity was a Press Conference, which presented an opportunity for journalists to question the objectives and future developments of the Member Parliaments as a result of the Seminar discussions. On the panel was Hon. Roger Mancienne, Minister Flavien Joubert, Secretary General Mr. Cesselin, and Chargé de mission de la COI Mr. Marc Maminiaina. This was followed by the Closing Ceremony, in which a virtual message was delivered by the former President of the COP21 and current President of the French Constitutional Council Mr. Laurent Fabius, who gave a call to action for the adoption of environmentally conscious frameworks which are contextually relevant to the COI Member States.
Officially closing the Seminar was Speaker Hon. Mancienne, who expressed his gratitude for the enlightening ideas and strategies shared by the climate experts and participants present and thanked the COI and APF for their support in actualising this successful event.
Following the Seminar, on Wednesday 25th September, was the Reunion De La Conference Des Presidents De L’association Des Parlements Des Etats Membres De La COI. The purpose of this meeting, chaired by the head of the Mauritian delegation Hon. Mohamad Salim Abbas Mamode, was to discuss the priority activities of the AP-COI in 2025, discuss the structure and sustainability of the AP-COI, and identify future partnership opportunities such as that with the APF. The adoption of various strategies for the continual development of the AP-COI were agreed upon by delegates of all four Member States, before the meeting came to a close. During the closing remarks, Hon. Mamode expressed his thanks to all delegations for their participation and cooperation in the progression of the AP-COI as a vital means of collaboration between the Member States.
Editor’s Note: The AP-COI is the network of parliaments of the IOC Member States, namely Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion (France) and Seychelles. In 2023, the AP-COI declared their determination to “carry out concerted programs to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable energy management and disaster risk reduction.” This goal is enhanced by the partnership with the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) which devotes a significant part of its activity to cooperation actions designed to strengthen the legal and technical capacities of parliamentarians and parliamentary officials.
