Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 |17 January 2026

President Herminie delivering his keynote address

Seychelles calls for global unity in water and ocean resilience

 President Patrick Herminie has reaffirmed Seychelles’ global leadership in climate and ocean governance as guest of honour and keynote speaker at the Blue Forum, held on the margins of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026.

Delivering the keynote address at the forum’s inauguration on Thursday, January 15, President Herminie issued a strong call for collective global action, urging governments, financiers, and innovators to work together through cooperation, innovation, and sustained investment to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water and ocean systems.

The President underscored that water – freshwater, coastal, and ocean systems alike – has become one of the world’s most critical and vulnerable natural resources, underpinning food security, energy production, trade, livelihoods, and ecosystems. He cautioned that decades of fragmented governance, where land, water, and ocean systems have been planned and financed in isolation, have weakened global resilience and increased exposure to climate and economic shocks.

“As climate impacts intensify, resilience cannot be built in silos,” President Herminie stated, emphasising the urgent need for integrated, systems-based ‘source-to-sea’ management that recognises the interdependence of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine environments.

Speaking from the perspective of a small island developing state (Sids), the President highlighted Seychelles’ unique vulnerabilities, while positioning the country as a practical global leader in climate action and the blue economy.

He outlined Seychelles’ achievements, including the designation of over 30 percent of its ocean territory as marine protected areas, surpassing global biodiversity targets, and the implementation of marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries management, and coastal protection initiatives.

President Herminie also drew attention to the recent severe drought experienced by Seychelles, using it as a stark illustration of the interconnected challenges of climate change, water security, and ocean health.

He stressed that addressing these risks requires innovative financing mechanisms, cross-sectoral policy alignment, and the strategic use of digital technologies to strengthen adaptation and resilience.

The President expressed appreciation for Seychelles’ strong international partnerships, notably with India, China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting the UAE’s recent support for desalination projects that have significantly enhanced Seychelles’ drought resilience and water security.

Concluding his address, President Herminie reaffirmed Seychelles’ readiness to collaborate globally, share lessons learned, and advocate for aligned policies, scaled and predictable financing, and technological advancement to safeguard water and ocean systems.

President Herminie is attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Barry Faure; the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resources, Marie-May Jeremie; the Minister for Investment and Industries, Geralda Desaubin; and the Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Arab Emirates, Gervais Moumou.

The following is President Herminie’s keynote address in its entirety.

“Distinguished delegates,

“Excellencies,

“Ladies and gentlemen

“This is my first attendance of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and I am honoured to address you today at the Blue Forum. I thank the government of the United Arab Emirates for the invitation to share Seychelles’ perspective at this important gathering. 

“As a small island developing state, Seychelles stands on the frontline of climate change, yet, we also choose to stand at the forefront of solutions.

“We meet at a time when climate pressures are intensifying and economic uncertainty is increasing. In this context, it is becoming increasingly clear that water has become one of the world’s most critical natural resources.

Freshwater, coastal, and ocean systems underpin food security, energy, trade, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Yet for decades, they have been managed in isolation – planned, financed, and governed separately – leading to fragmented decisions, missed opportunities for integrated solutions and ultimately reduced resilience in the face of growing climate and economic risk.

“The Blue Forum’s ambition to mobilise one hundred billion dollars in investment across water and ocean systems by 2030 reflects the scale of transformation required if we are to build real climate and economic resilience. Water is not only an environmental issue. It is central to climate adaptation, economic stability, and human development.

The Blue Forum advances a more realistic approach. One that recognises rivers, aquifers, deltas, coastlines, ports, fisheries, and oceans as part of a single, interconnected system. A continuum that runs from source to sea, and back. This systems-based perspective reflects the lived reality of communities and economies, and it must be fully reflected into policy, planning and finance.

“For Seychelles, a small island developing state whose territory is predominantly ocean, this perspective is not theoretical. It reflects our daily reality. Our economy, our infrastructure, our food systems, and our communities are shaped by the close interaction between land, water, and sea. Any disruption along this continuum affects the different aspects of our development.

“For many years, Seychelles has and continues to pursue the Blue Economy as an integrated national development pathway, rather than as a standalone sector through the implementation of our Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Policy Framework and Roadmap. This approach is based on a simple principle. Long-term socio-economic resilience depends on healthy ecosystems and environmental protection must go hand in hand with inclusive growth and viable livelihoods. This vision is embedded in our national planning framework and has guided reforms across fisheries, tourism, conservation and ocean governance.

“Our experience has shown that when freshwater and marine systems are managed in isolation, resilience is weakened. When they are managed together, supported by science, sound governance, and long-term planning, they contribute to stability and sustainable development. This understanding is driving Seychelles to invest in integrated, cross sectoral approaches that bridge land and sea. 

“Climate change is accelerating the breakdown of our interconnected water systems. Sea levels are surging, oceans are warming, coral reefs are collapsing, freshwater security is eroding, and extreme weather is striking with alarming frequency. We have long been saying it, but we won’t stop saying it, ‘The time to act is now’.

“Last year, Seychelles experienced one of the most severe droughts in its recent history. For an island nation surrounded by water, the drought was a stark reminder that freshwater security cannot be taken for granted. It affected households, agriculture, ecosystems, and essential services. It also highlighted how closely freshwater management is linked to coastal resilience, land use, energy systems, and climate variability.

“This experience reinforced an important lesson. Resilience cannot be built in silos.

“It is in response to these challenges that Seychelles has pursued integrated, source-to-sea approaches such as marine spatial planning, ridge to reef programmes, sustainable fisheries management, coastal protection, and water security initiatives all centred around ecosystem-based approaches. As part of this effort, Seychelles has now legally protected more than thirty percent of its ocean area, exceeding global biodiversity and protected area targets.

“This demonstrates that ambition and leadership are possible, even for small states. But protection alone is not enough. The more difficult task lies in implementation and management, where there are competing priorities.

Effective management of protected areas and fisheries management plans, enforcement of regulations, scientific monitoring, investment in water infrastructure, support for coastal communities, and climate adaptation all depend on sustained and predictable financing.

“For countries like Seychelles, the challenge is not a lack of commitment, but the ability to secure funding at scale to deliver these priorities.

“This is why the Blue Forum’s focus on mobilising investment across integrated water and ocean systems is critical. The global water economy is evolving, driven by innovation, technology, and new forms of finance. The capital needs to reach countries and communities that are already demonstrating leadership and readiness to deliver.

Opportunities exist across the full water and ocean spectrum, including resilient water systems, desalination, blue carbon, sustainable shipping, sustainable fisheries, ports, and climate-resilient coastal infrastructure. These are not niche areas. They represent a growing economic frontier with the potential to deliver both resilience and sustainable growth, particularly for island and coastal states.

“What is needed now is alignment. Alignment between policy and finance. Between planning and investment. And between global ambition and local implementation. Finance must be accessible, innovative, and responsive to real needs on the ground, particularly in vulnerable countries that have already demonstrated leadership.

“Innovation can play a vital role in supporting this transition. Digital tools, including artificial intelligence, can enhance climate modelling, environmental and fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance, strengthen early-warning systems, and improve decision-making across interconnected water systems. Used responsibly, they can enhance efficiency and resilience. But they must complement, not replace, sound policy, strong institutions, and inclusive governance.

“Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

“The Blue Forum offers a clear and timely reframing of the global water economy. One that recognises freshwater, coastal, and marine systems as a single, interconnected foundation for climate resilience and economic prosperity.

Seychelles reaffirms its commitment to advancing a Blue Economy that treats water and oceans as one shared continuum of responsibility and opportunity. This commitment is being translated into action through recent reforms, including a strengthened natural resources mandate within government and the development of first Water Resources Bill which incorporates integrated water resources management principles to support sustainable and climate-resilient water governance.

“We stand ready to strengthen partnerships, share lessons learned, and contribute leadership as a small island developing state and a committed advocate of this integrated approach.

“I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the significant contributions of our partners like India, China and the UAE for ongoing projects to strengthen Seychelles’ sustainability. I wish to thank our host in particular for responding to our recent severe drought with a number of desalination plants which will render the country to become more resilient against severe droughts. We value your genuine partnership.

“Together, let us mobilise the cooperation, innovation, and investment needed to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready water and ocean systems, from source to sea, for the benefit of present and future generations.

“Thank you.”

Press release from the Office of the President