Preface:
The Republic of Seychelles acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the 22nd September 1992, being the second country to do so. Likewise, the Seychelles was one of the earliest countries to sign the Kyoto Protocol on the 20th March 1998. The Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC by the Seychelles reflects our continued commitment to the process. Although the guidelines provided for the preparation of initial national communications by non-Annex I Parties do not place much emphasis on issues of vulnerability, adaptation and capacity building, my country is convinced that without sufficient attention given to these issues many small island states will not be able to cope with climate change in the coming years. The preparation of the National Communication enabled us to focus on issues that link climate change to sustainable development, which were not given much attention before. The process has created awareness at all levels within the Government and among the local communities, including NGOs and the private sector, making it a truly integrated and highly participatory process. Through the work of the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) and the study teams, which involved broad participation, several studies and assessments were undertaken in order to ensure that this Communication reflects clearly our situation, constraints and circumstances. The Communication further reinforces our position as an insignificant emitter and a net sink of greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, we have also identified areas for mitigation, for which we are prepared to undertake consistent and meaningful actions. Whilst the world continues to debate about global climate change and its effects, small islands like the Seychelles are the most vulnerable, with increased potential loss of coastal lands due to sea-level rise. The socio-economic implications are enormous. Amidst the range of uncertainties and the inability for science to provide all the immediate answers, it is important that we build upon two principles adopted in 1992 in Rio. The first and the most important being 'precaution', whereby all countries need to identify areas where they can reduce GHG emissions through changes in policy and technology. Secondly, whilst it is clear that climate change will occur despite measures adopted in the Kyoto Protocol, there is an urgent need to ensure that developing nations, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), can continue to develop and prosper in an equitable manner. Thus, SIDS need to be fully equipped, both financially and technically, to adapt to global climate change and sea-level rise, without re-directing its limited resources from sustainable development and the eradication of poverty, which is still imminent in many island states. It is, therefore, my sincere wish that this Communication has not only fulfilled our requirements under Article 12 of the Convention, but also provided a better understanding of the specific challenges faced and the efforts that have been made by my country in coping with the increasing threat of global climate change. Mr. James Alix Michel
Vice-President and Minister of Environment and Transport, Seychelles
October 2000
Study teams
Greenhouse Gases Inventory: Terence Coopoosamy, Mamy Razanajatovo, Andrew Jean-Louis and Vivian Radegonde Technologies and Measures for the Mitigation of Emission of GHG: Terence Coopoosamy, Antoine Marie Moustache, Andrew Jean-Louis, Mamy Razanajatovo, Suresh Kumar, Patrick Andre, Michel Vielle and Belinda Micock Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options: Rolph Payet, Antoine Moustache, Nirmal Shah, Rondolph Payet, Dawson Labodo, Andrew Jean-Louis, Danny Poiret and Wills Agricole - The National Climate Change Committee (NCCC), a multi-disciplinary team with representatives from both the public and private sector, including NGOs, for providing policy and technical guidance during the process for the preparation of this National Communication. All members of this Committee have also contributed, in one way or another, to the working reports, which form the basis of the various chapters in this document. They have also actively participated in various workshops that were organized during the process for the preparation of this document
The steering committee of the NCCC consist of the following members: | 
