On the sidelines of the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), President Ramkalawan who is currently leading the Seychelles delegation in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, held bilateral meetings with key personalities and stakeholders. The Head of State also participated in various side events strategic for Seychelles.

The President attended the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Leaders High-level Round-table event, where key topics such as Loss and Damage, Multi-Vulnerability Index (MVI), Just Transition and implementation post COP27 were at the centre of discussions. AOSIS represents the interests of the 39 small islands and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate change, sustainable development negotiations, and processes.

The President also participated as one of the panelists at the COP27 High-Level Roundtable under the guided theme “Climate change and the sustainability of vulnerable communities” where his intervention was focused on the plight of Seychelles as one of Africa’s smallest island states and the vulnerability of the Seychelles.

The President also had the opportunity to network and hold bilateral talks with world leaders of various countries such as Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, UAE, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Comoros, Ethiopia, and Morocco.

Following the high-level meetings, the President also participated in a series of interviews with CNN, Bloomberg, Associated Press as well as Egyptian Media Al Youm Al Sabea (Youm7), as part of efforts to further advocate the cause and survival of SIDS and the world faced with the dire threats of climate change.