The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) launched, on Friday, at the Oceanarium Odysseo in Port Louis, a photography book entitled ‘Islands facing climate change’.
The book brings together a selection of 47 photographs showing the visible impacts of climate change on the Indian Ocean islands as well as the mitigation and adaptation solutions being implemented in response to these effects.
The 47 photographs were chosen from 81 entries received by the IOC in the context of a regional photography contest organised, from June to September 2021, as part of activities under the Intra-African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) European Union (EU) Global Climate Change Alliance+ (EU GCCA+) Programme. This €70 million initiative, funded by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), aims at assisting ACP countries in building their resilience to climate change.
The regional photography competition, open to Indian Ocean islanders, comprised three categories: the visible effects of climate change; the mitigation and adaptation solutions to climate change; and young people, for those aged between 12 and 17 years old.
Mr Mahasetra David Razafimbohitra from the Malagasy Republic bagged the first prize in the ‘visible effects of climate change’ category with the picture a child looking for water during drought. The winner for the second category was Malagasy photographer, Mr Serge Rakotofiringa, for his work depicting the way reforestation can fight climate change. As for the young people category, the best photography award was given to Ms Abbigayle Claite from the Republic of Mauritius for her picture ‘RipRap – attempt to prevent coastal erosion in Pointe aux Sables’.
At the launching ceremony of the photography book, both Ms Gina Bonne from the IOC and Mr Massimiliano Rossi from the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius and to the Republic of Seychelles underscored the climate urgency in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). They highlighted the growing number of extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, soaring temperature, intense cyclones and sea level-rise.
While applauding endeavours for strong engagement and sensitisation, Ms Bonne and Mr Rossi underlined the necessity for SIDS to speak with one strong voice at the international level for concrete outcomes on mitigation and adaptation to curtail the consequences of extreme weather disasters. They dwelt on the Intra-ACP GCCA+ Programme which could support Member States to better tackle climate change and implement appropriate adaptation and mitigation responses through funded regional programmes and technical assistance.
