The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the Stockholm +50 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, from June 2 to 3, 2022. The event brought together heads of state, ministers, and delegates from over 130 countries to reflect on 50 years of global environmental action.
Hosted jointly by Sweden and Kenya, the meeting was held under the theme “A Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All – Our Responsibility, Our Opportunity.” The event commemorated five decades since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, which first placed environmental issues at the forefront of international policy.
Seychelles was represented by Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, and Principal Secretary for Environment, Denis Matatiken.
In his address, Minister Joubert urged global leaders to learn from past shortcomings and to take meaningful action that reflects the needs and realities of small island developing states (SIDS).
“If we want to leave a legacy for our children, we must implement urgent actions now. It is about our very existence,” he said.
Minister Joubert reaffirmed Seychelles’ firm commitment to global climate goals but stressed the challenges faced by SIDS as they transition from middle- to high-income status. He noted that GDP does not reflect the true costs of climate change, the vulnerability of island economies, or the expenses associated with protecting vast ocean territories and limited food resources.
He called for enhanced equity and support from global partners to enable sustainable development through financial, technological, and knowledge-based cooperation.
Ahead of the meeting, Minister Joubert and Principal Secretary Matatiken also participated in a high-level segment of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions on June 1, attended by Executive Director Rolph Payet. The discussions served as a prelude to the upcoming Conference of the Parties in Geneva, where Seychelles reiterated its position that industrialised nations must take stronger leadership roles in tackling pollution and supporting developing nations.
Salim C. Mathieu, Founder of Seychelles in Sweden, notes that Seychelles’ participation in Stockholm +50 underscores the country’s consistent advocacy for climate justice and sustainable development on the world stage.