Paradise at risk: The Seychelles faces climate change head-on

When it comes to organising a high-level parliamentary meeting, there are few more beautiful settings than the islands of The Seychelles. Its seemingly infinite sandy shores, tropical rainforests, extensive wildlife, magical rock formations, as well as an extremely welcoming population, make the country a tourist’s paradise.

However, tourists are (rightly) becoming increasingly concerned with their impact on such rare and pristine environments. The climate-minded tourist takes fewer long-haul flights to holiday destinations and is much more wary of the effect of tourist infrastructure on the landscape and the local communities.

As a low-lying archipelago formed of 115 islands – of which only eight are permanently inhabited the Seychelles is both highly vulnerable to climate change and uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable tourism and renewable energy. Our recent workshop with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of the Parliamentarians for Climate Finance project was framed within the backdrop of Beau Vallon beach.

We brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, investors, and experts to explore how island nations can accelerate their transition to renewable energy. This workshop, part of the broader Green Energy Zones Investment Dialogue, is a crucial step in connecting policy, finance, and technical expertise. By fostering regional and international partnerships, The Seychelles and other island nations can unlock climate finance that supports both economic growth and environmental protection.

The 130,000 people living in The Seychelles will experience the full force of climate change. Over the next 5 to 10 decades, with sea levels rising as they are, most of the archipelago will be underwater. Where will these 130,000 people go? I spoke to one man, a fisherman, cooking his catch on the beach side for tourists to enjoy. He said he wasn’t going anywhere, ‘It wasn’t us that made this mess in the first place. If we sink, we sink.’

But there is still time. The atolls don’t have to sink, and their inhabitants don’t need to be displaced. If The Seychelles can transition to renewable energy and a net-zero tourist industry at an accelerated rate, the country can turn green visions into bankable projects, ensuring that island nations and their peoples are not just adapting to climate change but actively shaping the global sustainability agenda.

Combined with high-level political commitment, institutional expertise, and investor engagement, The Seychelles is poised to become a regional leader in sustainable development. We’re looking forward to returning to the country’s shores next year to help make this vision a reality.

Eliza Cocksworth, Network Manager