AGP Executive Report

Renewables & Energy: Seychelles reaffirmed its push for solar PV with the International Solar Alliance, discussing how to speed up adoption of photovoltaic technologies. Blue Economy & Skills: Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows. Wildlife & Conservation: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises in a first-of-its-kind exchange, boosting public awareness of the Seychelles’ iconic species. Maritime Tourism & Infrastructure: A Seychelles parliamentary delegation visited Mumbai’s cruise terminal to explore passenger facilities and sustainability efforts, including the proposed Mumbai Marina project. Digital Trade for Africa: AfCFTA signed an agreement with QUEST Ghana to set up and run a digital trade corridor hosted in Seychelles to facilitate cross-border commerce. Climate & Health: A new study highlights how air conditioning saves lives, while warning it can worsen climate change—an issue that matters as heat risks rise. Environmental Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, focusing on environmental education and practical waste-reduction habits.

Renewables & Energy Diplomacy: Seychelles met the International Solar Alliance to push solar PV adoption and deepen renewable energy cooperation, as the country charts its transition priorities. Maritime Tourism & Sustainability: A Seychelles parliamentary delegation toured Mumbai’s International Cruise Terminal and discussed the proposed Mumbai Marina Project, with Seychelles also probing the port’s sustainability and cleaner operations. Fuel Security Deal: IndianOil and Mauritius signed a five-year fuel supply arrangement covering petrol, diesel, marine gas oil and aviation fuel, aiming for long-term supply certainty and price stability—an energy move with regional relevance. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows. Wildlife Conservation Spotlight: Wildlife Photographer of the Year previews highlight the beauty and vulnerability of species worldwide, including images tied to fragile habitats. Heat & Cooling Trade-off: New research reiterates that air conditioning saves lives but can worsen climate impacts, with cooling emissions projected to rise sharply. Wildlife Trade Watch: TRAFFIC reports widespread live coral smuggling, including shipments mislabeled to evade customs. Local Environment Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, focusing on environmental education and practical waste-sorting actions students can take. Wildlife Exchange: Surabaya Zoo welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan in a first-of-its-kind transfer, supporting education and conservation awareness.

Renewables Push: Seychelles is stepping up its partnership with the International Solar Alliance, with Environment, Climate, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Marie-May Jeremie meeting ISA’s director general Ashish Khanna to boost solar PV and renewable energy adoption. Blue Economy & Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows, ahead of a major blue economy conference. Marine Wildlife Watch: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan in a first-of-its-kind transfer, highlighting ongoing wildlife exchange and conservation education. Coral Under Pressure: A new report warns coral smuggling is widespread, with thousands of coral pieces moved through global trade networks using misleading labels. Heat & Health: Scientists say air conditioning saves lives during extreme heat, but cooling demand is rising fast and could worsen climate impacts unless cleaner solutions expand. Local Learning for the Planet: Seychelles Tourism Academy students took part in Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, including practical discussion on waste sorting and cutting plastic packaging. Trade Tech for Africa: AfCFTA and QUEST Ghana signed an agreement to operationalise a digital trade corridor hosted in Seychelles, aiming to support cross-border commerce across multiple countries.

Seychelles Blue Economy & Fisheries: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s ICAR-CMFRI in Kochi to deepen cooperation on fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, including stock assessment, climate impacts, seaweed processing and marine bioprospecting. Wildlife & Conservation: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan in a first-of-its-kind move for the species, highlighting ongoing wildlife exchange and education. Coral Protection: New reporting warns live coral smuggling is widespread, with shipments often mislabeled and involving many countries—an urgent reminder for reef protection efforts relevant to the Seychelles. Climate & Health: Studies and UN-linked projections say air conditioning saves lives during heat, but can worsen global warming as cooling demand rises—fuel for local heat-risk planning. Local Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s “Knowledge Day” lesson with an environmental education focus, encouraging students to act on waste sorting and reducing plastic packaging. Regional Trade Tech (Seychelles-hosted): AfCFTA signed with QUEST Ghana to operationalise an AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor hosted in Seychelles, aiming to support cross-border trade tracking and payments across Africa.

Seychelles & Blue Economy: Seychelles is set to host the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with the AfCFTA Secretariat and QUEST Ghana signing an agreement to build a digital platform for tracking and facilitating cross-border trade, starting with a pilot across 5–8 countries and expanding continent-wide. Marine Conservation & Wildlife: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan’s iZoo partner, marking the first time the species has been housed there and highlighting ongoing wildlife exchange and education. Climate & Health: A new study warns that while air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, it also drives climate warming because cooling electricity often comes from fossil fuels—fueling calls for safer cooling solutions. Reef Protection: Coral smuggling remains a major global threat, with thousands of cases and millions of coral pieces moved through customs using misleading labels, pushing for better enforcement and alternatives like farm-raised coral. Local Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy students took part in Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, discussing environmental education and practical steps like waste sorting and cutting plastic packaging. Seychelles Environment Heritage: A look back at Aride Island shows how conservation funding in 1973 helped restore habitat, and today the island supports around one million breeding seabirds.

Heat & Health: New research says air conditioning saves tens of thousands of lives, but cooling demand is set to surge and could drive major climate-warming emissions—raising the stakes for heat protection in a warming world. Seychelles Education & Waste: Seychelles Tourism Academy’s Knowledge Day lesson in Russia pushed environmental education for students, with practical ideas like better waste sorting, separating organics, and cutting plastic-packaged products. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows. Marine Conservation: TRAFFIC reports extensive live coral smuggling worldwide, often mislabelled to slip past customs—highlighting the need for stronger protection of reefs. Wildlife in Seychelles: A conservation success story from Bird Island shows how habitat restoration helped seabirds rebound after decades of exploitation. Aldabra Tortoises Abroad: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, marking a first for the species there and boosting public conservation awareness. Seychelles-India Fisheries Links: A Seychelles delegation met India’s CMFRI to expand cooperation on sustainable fisheries and mariculture, including climate and biodiversity research. AfCFTA Digital Trade: Seychelles hosted a signing to operationalise the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor via a Seychelles-based joint venture, aiming to speed cross-border commerce across Africa. Ocean Stress Warning: New reporting flags marine heatwave conditions in the Indian Ocean alongside El Niño signals—an urgent reminder for coral reefs, fisheries, and coastal protection.

Seychelles Social Fund Push: Seychelles plans a new $2B fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with an independent CEO and board to protect public resources from political interference, as the government targets modest growth amid tourism recovery. Blue Economy & Fisheries Links: A Seychelles delegation met India’s CMFRI to expand cooperation on fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, including climate impacts and marine bioprospecting. Coral Protection Alarm: New reporting highlights how live coral smuggling is widespread, with millions of coral pieces moved through global trade and often mislabeled—raising fresh urgency for enforcement and alternatives. Heat & Cooling Trade-off: Scientists warn that air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but fossil-fuel-powered cooling can worsen warming—fueling a push for lower-carbon cooling solutions. Wildlife Conservation in Focus: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, marking a first for the species there and spotlighting conservation education. Local Learning on Environment: Seychelles Tourism Academy hosted Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, using school waste-sorting and plastic-reduction ideas to encourage everyday environmental action. Digital Integration for Trade: AfCFTA signed with QUEST Ghana to set up a Seychelles-hosted AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor to support cross-border commerce and payments across African countries. Quiet Nature Travel Trend: A new “quietcation” index ranks islands by soundscape, dark skies and low development—fueling demand for greener, quieter destinations.

Seychelles-India Blue Economy: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s ICAR-CMFRI in Kochi to push cooperation on sustainable fisheries, mariculture, seaweed processing, tuna research and climate-change impacts on marine life. Climate & Health: New research warns that while air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, it also worsens global warming because cooling demand is rising fast and most electricity still comes from fossil fuels. Marine Wildlife & Conservation: Reports highlight coral trafficking and the scale of illegal live coral smuggling, with shipments often mislabeled to evade customs—raising alarms for reef protection. Local Nature Success Story: Seychelles’ Aride island is revisited as a conservation turnaround story, where protection helped seabird numbers rebound to around one million breeding birds. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows. Regional Security at Sea: Kenya intercepted an unregistered vessel linked to methamphetamine trafficking, underscoring how small boats also enable IUU fishing and wildlife smuggling across Indian Ocean routes. Tourism & Environment Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, focusing on environmental education and practical waste-sorting habits for students. Wildlife Photography Buzz: A sneak peek from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition showcases the natural world’s beauty and vulnerability ahead of the October awards.

Air Conditioning & Heat Risk: New research says air conditioning saves tens of thousands of lives, but its fossil-fuel power demand could drive major climate warming in the decades ahead—raising the stakes for safer cooling in a warming world. Indian Ocean Climate Pressure: Ocean monitoring flags marine heatwave conditions and a strengthening El Niño, with experts warning that stressed seas can hit coral, fisheries, tourism and coastal safety. Coral Smuggling Alarm: TRAFFIC reports widespread live coral smuggling across dozens of countries, often mislabeled to slip past customs—fueling calls for farm-raised alternatives and better detection. Seychelles–India Blue Economy: Seychelles and India are pushing deeper maritime and fisheries cooperation, including sustainable fisheries and blue economy research links. Wildlife Conservation Spotlight: A Seychelles seabird success story highlights how long-term habitat protection helped restore massive seabird breeding on islands once pushed toward collapse. Local Environment Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy’s Knowledge Day lesson in Russia focused on environmental education habits like waste sorting and cutting plastic packaging. Wildlife Photography Preview: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 releases early standout images, spotlighting nature’s beauty and vulnerability ahead of October awards. Aldabra Tortoises Arrive: Surabaya Zoo welcomes four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, marking a first for the species there and adding a new conservation learning attraction.

Seychelles–India Blue Economy: Seychelles and India agreed to deepen cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, with a focus on sustainable marine resource management and capacity building. Wildlife & Conservation: A Seychelles-linked conservation story highlights how Bird Island was restored after decades of habitat damage, now supporting massive seabird breeding. Coral Protection: New reporting warns coral trafficking is booming, with thousands of shipments mislabeled to evade customs—raising the stakes for reef protection. Marine Security: Authorities intercepted a small unregistered fishing boat tied to methamphetamine trafficking, pointing to how small vessels also enable IUU fishing and wildlife smuggling. Climate & Health: Studies reiterate the lifesaving role of air conditioning during heat, while stressing the climate cost as cooling demand rises. Local Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy hosted Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, including practical ideas on waste sorting and cutting plastic packaging. Tourism Demand: Seychelles is seeing more family and multi-generational visitors, not just honeymooners, as resorts market longer, nature-filled stays. Governance & Social Investment: Seychelles plans a new $2B fund to strengthen health, education and infrastructure, with independent management to reduce political interference. Wildlife Exchange: Surabaya Zoo welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, marking a first for the species there.

Quietcation Trend: A new “Unspoilt Index” ranks the world’s quietest islands using soundscape factors like nature cover, roads, air traffic, population density, dark skies and coastline—spotlighting how “quiet holidays” are booming. Climate & Cooling Trade-off: New research says air conditioning saves lives (nearly 58,000 in the US from 2010–2020) but also worsens global warming as cooling demand rises and most power still comes from fossil fuels. Seychelles Blue Economy Push: Seychelles and India are deepening cooperation on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, including stock assessment, mariculture, conservation and digital monitoring. Aldabra Wildlife in New Homes: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, marking a first for the species there and boosting public awareness. Coral Crime Warning: TRAFFIC reports extensive live coral smuggling worldwide, with shipments often mislabeled to bypass customs—raising alarms for reef protection. Local Learning for the Planet: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson with an environmental education focus, encouraging waste sorting and cutting plastic packaging. Seychelles Social Fund Plan: Seychelles is set to launch a new $2B fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to reduce political interference.

Climate & Health: Air conditioning is saving lives, but scientists warn its fossil-fuel power demand is set to drive major climate warming, with UN projections of sharply rising heat-trapping emissions. Reefs Under Pressure: Coral smuggling is booming worldwide, with shipments often mislabeled to slip past customs—bad news for Seychelles’ reef-dependent ecosystems and tourism. Ocean Signals: New reporting flags marine heatwave conditions across the Indian Ocean and expects El Niño to intensify, raising risks for coral, fisheries, and coastal safety. Seychelles Blue Economy: Seychelles and India are deepening cooperation on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, research, and marine conservation, including work on data systems and monitoring. Wildlife Conservation Story: A decades-long Seychelles island recovery—Bird Island—shows how habitat protection can bring back seabird colonies after exploitation. Local Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy held Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson, with students discussing environmental education and practical waste-sorting actions. Tourism & Access: Expedition cruising is marketing “unmarked anchorages” and remote island access, including stops near Aldabra—raising both excitement and questions about responsible visitation. Governance & Funding: Seychelles plans a new $2B fund focused on health, education, and infrastructure, with independent management to reduce political interference. Digital Trade Corridor: AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Corridor is set to be hosted in Seychelles, aiming to speed cross-border trade with a phased pilot across African countries.

Sustainable Fisheries & Blue Economy: Seychelles and India agreed to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture, marine research and capacity building, including work on stock assessment, mariculture and tuna fisheries, with a focus on sustainable use of marine resources. Climate & Health: New research highlights how air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but also worsens global warming because most cooling power comes from fossil fuels—raising the need for cleaner cooling solutions. Ocean Alarm: Monitoring points to marine heatwave conditions across the Indian Ocean, with expectations of a strengthening El Niño and a likely positive Indian Ocean Dipole—warning of impacts on reefs, fish and coastal protection. Coral Crime: TRAFFIC reports widespread live coral smuggling, with millions of pieces moved through many countries and often mislabeled to evade customs. Wildlife Conservation: A Seychelles island conservation story shows how restoring nesting habitat helped seabirds rebound—now supporting around a million breeding seabirds annually. Tourism Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy students discussed environmental education and practical waste-sorting steps during Russia’s Knowledge Day lesson. Wildlife Spotlight: Wildlife Photographer of the Year released a preview from a record 65,000 entries, spotlighting conservation-focused imagery.

Maritime Security: Kenya Navy seized over a metric ton of methamphetamine from an unregistered vessel in the Indian Ocean, highlighting how small, unmarked boats enable drug trafficking and IUU fishing. Heat & Health: New research says air conditioning saves thousands from heat deaths, but fossil-fuel power for cooling could drive major climate warming unless cleaner electricity expands. Indian Ocean Alarm: Scientists warn marine heatwaves and a strengthening El Niño could intensify stress on reefs and coastal communities across the region. Coral Crime: TRAFFIC reports widespread coral smuggling across dozens of countries, often disguised as everyday goods, threatening reef recovery. Blue Economy Talks: Seychelles and India agreed to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture, research and capacity building, including better data and monitoring. Wildlife Conservation Spotlight: Seychelles’ Aride and Bird Island stories show how habitat protection helped seabird colonies rebound after decades of exploitation. Tourism With Purpose: Alain St.Ange urged tourism to measure real community value, not just visitor numbers, as Seychelles tourism growth continues.

Heat & Health: New research warns air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but its fossil-fuel electricity demand could sharply worsen global warming and strain grids. Coral Crime: TRAFFIC reports over 1,300 cases of live coral smuggling since 2000, with shipments often mislabeled to dodge customs—highlighting a direct threat to reef health. Indian Ocean Alarm: Monitoring shows marine heatwaves across the region, with El Niño expected to intensify and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole likely—raising risks for reefs, fisheries and coastal safety. Seychelles–India Blue Economy: Seychelles and India are stepping up cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, including research, stock assessment, mariculture and digital monitoring. Climate Outlook for the Region: Southern Africa’s rainy season is forecast to be below normal in many areas, while Seychelles is among places expected to see above-normal rainfall. Conservation Win (Seychelles): Stories from Aride and Bird Island show how long-term habitat protection helped seabird colonies rebound after past exploitation. Wildlife Spotlight: Wildlife Photographer of the Year released a preview of its record-breaking 65,000-entry shortlist, with conservation-focused imagery from around the world. Tourism with a Purpose: Seychelles’ tourism ambassador urges the industry to measure real community value—not just visitor numbers.

Heat & Health Trade-off: Scientists say air conditioning can save lives during heat waves, but rising cooling demand could also drive big increases in planet-warming emissions and strain power grids. Indian Ocean Alarm: New monitoring flags marine heatwave conditions across the region, with a strong El Niño and a likely positive Indian Ocean Dipole expected to intensify stress on reefs, fish and coastal protection. Seychelles–India Blue Economy Push: Seychelles and India are stepping up cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, including stock assessment, mariculture, tuna processing and new work plans using digital tools and AI. Aride’s Seabird Comeback: A look back at how conservation saved Seychelles’ Aride (and its seabirds) after decades of exploitation—now home to around a million breeding seabirds. Wildlife Spotlight: The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 preview highlights record entries and powerful conservation stories, with Seychelles-relevant attention on protecting habitats. Solar Momentum in Africa: Africa’s solar push targets scaling up to 200 gigawatts, with Seychelles calling for solar storage, stronger grids and less reliance on imported fuels.