Africa-Press – Seychelles. Seychelles advocates for coastal resilience
The Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, participated in the European Commission and European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Adaptation Days Conference, held in Nice, France from June 5to 6, where he was invited to a high-level forum focused on advancing climate adaptation strategies and financing.
During the event, Minister Derjacques delivered a compelling presentation highlighting Seychelles’ urgent need for coastal adaptation support, especially in the face of intensifying climate change impacts that are threatening the country’s infrastructure, economy, and way of life.
Coastal erosion, the minister stressed, is no longer a distant or gradual threat for Seychelles – it is an immediate and escalating crisis. “We may, in fact, become climate refugees,” the minister warned, citing the alarming rate of coastal retreat and the increasing frequency of storm surges and rising sea levels that are reshaping the nation’s landscape.
The minister underscored the devastating impact of coastal erosion on Seychelles’ road infrastructure. In several areas, coastal roads are being severely damaged or completely washed away, compromising connectivity, public safety, and economic activity. He explained that Seychelles’ critical infrastructure – roads, utilities, and services – are overwhelmingly concentrated along the coast, making coastal protection a matter of national survival.
“As a small island developing state that relies heavily on tourism, protecting our coasts is not just about preserving our natural beauty – it’s about safeguarding our economy and the very foundation of our national development,” said Minister Derjacques. “Without our beaches, we risk losing our primary source of income and our ability to fund education, healthcare, and essential public services.”
Despite the clear urgency, Seychelles faces substantial hurdles in accessing the financial resources needed to undertake large-scale coastal protection projects. The minister’s intervention was a call for stronger international cooperation and more equitable access to adaptation financing for small island nations on the frontlines of climate change.
He emphasised that protecting Seychelles’ coasts is not just a local necessity – it is a global responsibility. Investing in coastal resilience today is essential to securing the future of vulnerable communities, sustaining key economic sectors, and preserving the ecological treasures that island nations like Seychelles offer the world.
The minister’s presence at the EIB Adaptation Days reinforces Seychelles’ continued advocacy for climate justice and its commitment to pursuing sustainable, resilient infrastructure solutions.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Derjacques held a bilateral meeting with the Vice- President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Ambroise Fayolle. The discussion centred on climate adaptation priorities, with a particular focus on financing for coastal infrastructure and the urgent threats facing Seychelles’ road network.
Minister Derjacques highlighted that coastal erosion is not only erasing the country’s natural heritage but also threatening the foundation of its economy and the safety of its communities. Today, 27 critical locations on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have been identified where road infrastructure is in imminent danger of collapse. The situation on outer islands such as Desroches, Remire, Coetivy, Alphonse and Silhouette is even more acute – where in many cases, the entire landmass is being impacted.
The meeting also included updates on the ongoing Port Victoria Extension Project – a major infrastructure initiative co-financed by the EIB and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD)—which remains a central pillar of Seychelles’ strategy to build sustainable and resilient maritime infrastructure.
Minister Derjacques emphasised the urgent need to mobilise international funding to support both further research and the implementation of immediate mitigation measures. “The impacts of climate change are not a future scenario – they are a present crisis demanding action,” he stated. “Without swift and sustained investment, there can be no viable path forward for our infrastructure or our communities.”
He reiterated Seychelles’ commitment to working with trusted development partners like the EIB to address these challenges head-on, ensuring that small island developing states (Sids) are not left behind in the global climate response.
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