Stories written by James Alix Michel
                                                                                                                                                                  After twelve years as President of the Republic of Seychelles, and much longer before that in various political and administrative roles, James Alix Michel continues to dedicate his time and energy to projects that promote his country as well as the achievements it has made.                                                                                                                                                                   During James Michel’s presidency, Seychelles’ response to the great challenge of promoting the Blue Economy, adapting and reducing the impact of Climate Change, and achieving the United Nation’s goals for Sustainable Development, won the support of its citizens and the international community alike for its efforts and achievements.                                                                                                                                                                  James Michel is engaged in international diplomacy efforts to ensure peace and maritime security, regional cooperation, trade and investment and the promotion of good relations between Seychelles' traditional partners as well as fostering new partnerships with countries of the region and beyond.

“Humanity at the Edge of Its Own Humanity”

By James Alix Michel
We live in a century of extraordinary achievement. Humanity has split the atom, mapped the genome, and sent astronauts to the Moon, with plans now underway to reach Mars. Our knowledge has expanded, our tools have become more powerful, and our capacity to shape the world around us exceeds anything previous generations could have imagined. We communicate instantaneously across continents, diagnose diseases earlier, monitor climate patterns in real time, and design artificial intelligences that can aid in everything from medicine to climate modelling.

“At Africa’s First Our Ocean Conference, a Test of Global Will on High Seas Protection and Deep-Sea Mining”

By James Alix Michel
When the 11th Our Ocean Conference opens in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya, from June 16-18, 2026, it will mark the first time this influential meeting has been held on African soil. For coastal and island nations across the continent and the wider Indian Ocean – and for the Global South more broadly – the stakes could not be higher: the promises and commitments made there will help decide whether the ocean becomes a source of justice and resilience, or deepens existing inequalities.

Protecting Africa’s Ocean Future and Why a Precautionary Pause on Deep-sea Mining Matters

By James Alix Michel and Dona Bertarelli
The world is entering a decisive period for the future of the ocean. With the High Seas Treaty coming into force and meaningful progress being made on the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, global momentum for stronger marine governance is building. Yet, new pressures linked to the push for deep-sea mining — the extraction of minerals from seabed thousands of meters below the ocean surface — threaten to undermine these gains. To safeguard progress, global decision-making will have to keep pace with such emerging risks. In this context, Africa will host several global discussions in 2026, including those that will shape the ocean's future, with a series of opportunities for leadership starting with the African Union Summit in February to the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya in June.

COP30: Broken Promises, New Hope — A Call to Turn Words into Action

By James Alix Michel
When the world gathered in Glasgow for COP26, the mantra was “building back better.” Two years later, in Sharm El Sheikh, COP27 promised “implementation.” This year, in Belém, Brazil, COP30 arrived with a heavier burden: to finally bridge the chasm between lofty rhetoric and the urgent, measurable steps needed to keep 1.5 °C alive.

Hollow Promises or Hope?
COP30 Brazil – Moment of Truth for the Planet

By James Alix Michel
COP30 Brazil, though shadowed by the absence of many world leaders, remains a pivotal milestone in the global fight against climate change, tasked with building on the Paris Agreement’s momentum. Yet the glaring lack of commitment, coupled with withdrawals from the accord, casts a grim shadow over the future. The planet continues to warm, and scientists warn that current targets may not prevent a catastrophic temperature spike. While the summit’s focus on implementation not just new promises—is a welcome shift, it’s clear: words alone won’t cool the Earth.

Saving the Ocean – Act Now!

By James Alix Michel
Like so many problems besetting the world, the existential threats facing small island states are all too obvious. Island nations are surrounded by the sea, and they depend on it for their livelihood and for their security. The sheer power of the sea can never be tamed but islanders have learnt to work with it and in doing so, there has always been a productive balance. But this balance, however, has been cast aside - the relationship has broken down. Our mighty ocean is in poor shape.
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