βItβs important to know what resources Seychelles hasβ
President Wavel Ramkalawan says fossil fuel exploration is not climate blackmail
Itβs important for Seychelles to know whether or not it has fossil fuel reserves β and from there βwe will see where we goβ, the countryβs President has said.
The country had signed a deal with a Canadian firm to explore the extent of oil reserves in the ocean near the island nation.
βAfrica is saying to the world βyes you want us to preserve the environment,β said President Ramkalawan. βBut at the same time the guy in west Africa will not die hungry under his rosewood tree to preserve it. At some point he will cut down that rosewood tree.β
Seychelles is a small island nation off the coast of Kenya. Many of the low lying islands run the risk of being affected by climate change and rising sea levels.
However the country says it needs more help from the international community to adapt.
In an interview at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022, President Ramkalawan said Seychelles isnβt interested in pursuing oil exploitation but βunless you have cards these days, you arenβt taken seriouslyβ.
