LocationsThis initiative marks an important milestone in Seychelles' ongoing efforts to strengthen its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and chart a pathway towards a more resilient, low-carbon and sustainable future.
Seychelles advances climate ambition through validation of its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)
June 10, 2026
UNDP Mauritius and Seychelles/Jean-Yan Norbert
Victoria, Seychelles, 10 June 2026 – Representatives from government ministries, the private sector, civil society, academia, development partners and other key stakeholders gathered today for the validation workshop of Seychelles’ Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), co-organized by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The workshop marks an important milestone in Seychelles’ efforts to strengthen its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and advance a pathway towards a more resilient, low-carbon and sustainable future. Developed through an inclusive and consultative process, the updated NDC reflects contributions from government institutions, technical agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector and development partners.
The validation workshop featured technical presentations by Dr Laurent Sam, Technical Coordinator for the NDC 3.0 Process, Theodore Marguerite, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for the NDC 3.0 Process, and consultants from Deloitte, who presented key findings, sectoral priorities and proposed climate commitments contained in the draft NDC.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Preethi Nair, Programme Coordinator at UNDP Seychelles, highlighted the importance of climate ambition in an increasingly uncertain global context.
“Climate ambition is not optional. It is essential to safeguarding the islands we call home and our future. Through the Climate Promise initiative, UNDP has supported Seychelles in advancing an inclusive NDC process that links climate ambition with planning, finance and development, helping translate commitments into credible, financeable and actionable pathways for sustainability,” she said.
As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Seychelles remains particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather events continue to pose significant challenges to communities, ecosystems and key economic sectors, including tourism and fisheries.
The updated NDC seeks to strengthen both mitigation and adaptation efforts. Key areas of focus include accelerating the transition towards renewable energy, promoting sustainable transport solutions, improving waste management, enhancing climate resilience across critical sectors, and protecting Seychelles’ unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The reviewed NDC also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the blue economy, strengthening food and water security, enhancing resilience in infrastructure and communities, and conserving biodiversity as part of a holistic approach to climate action.
Justin Prosper, Director General for the Department of Energy and Climate Affairs, underscored the significance of the NDC as a nationally owned roadmap for climate action.
“This NDC has been developed through a comprehensive whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. It is ambitious yet realistic, outlining our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 while strengthening resilience across priority sectors. Importantly, it also places gender equality, youth engagement and social inclusion at the heart of climate action, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, climate finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support in enabling Small Island Developing States such as Seychelles to translate climate ambition into concrete action and measurable outcomes.
Building on the discussions held today, a workshop on Gender and Social Inclusion in NDC 3.0 will be held on 11 June. The session will examine how gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches are integrated across climate actions and identify opportunities to further strengthen equitable participation, resilience and access to climate solutions for women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in Seychelles.
