Mauritius

Executive Summary

Mauritius is a small island and developing state (SIDS) and part of the global south, considered very vulnerable to climate change. Mauritius faces erratic and torrential rainfall, flooding, drought, sea level rise and high intensity cyclones.

NDC Highlights

The NDC mentions that Mauritius will continue to engage with stakeholders (including businesses, civil society, youths, students, women, senior citizens and the research community) to co-create and co-deliver solutions, amplify awareness, and encourage a whole-of-nation effort to address climate change. Based on current projections, Mauritius aims to reduce overall GHG emissions by 40% in 2030 compared to the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario of around 6,900 ktCO2eq (including LULUCF) in 2030. Mauritius confirms its commitment to implement policies and measures on LULUCF and Agriculture sectors in line with its national policy and strategy documents on climate change and sustainable development. The production of 60 percent of energy needs from green sources and total phasing out of use of coal by 2030 remains a key decision of the government. The Updated National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework in 2021 focuses on the potential of nature-based solutions for adaptation and policy for resilience-building such as the enhancement of the knowledge base regarding the risks of climate change and the impacts on communities; developing and implementing an integrated approach which combines the following sectors namely; Fisheries (Blue Economy), Tourism, Biodiversity (Terrestrial and Marine), Forestry, Agriculture and Coastal Zone; enhancing strategic frameworks to address policy gaps and improve expertise in the Health sector, and increasing resilience of human-led activities whilst preserving ecosystem functions, through improving governance, enhancing disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, for infrastructure and disaster risk reduction sectors.  There are joint efforts (with local communities, NGOs) to restore ecosystems and, thus, the carbon storage capacity (mangrove, forest, coral reef rehabilitation).

NDC Lowlights

No defined strategy and action plan for integration of youth in climate change decisions. Youths are mentioned in Other contextual aspirations and priorities acknowledged when joining the Paris Agreement but lacking mention of any formal structure for youth participation in climate action. No defined strategy to increase gender balance and women representation at key decision-making roles in all sectors related to climate change (agriculture, energy, economy, finance, transport, industries and processes, education, health, etc).

Key Recommendations on intergenerational justice

The NDC superficially mentions youth in 'Other contextual aspirations and priorities acknowledged when joining the Paris Agreement' but lacks mention of any formal structure for recording, monitoring and supporting youth participation and inclusion in climate actions and advocacy. There is no clear strategy and action plan defined of how young people are beneficiaries of climate action efforts. Although a large number of youth in Mauritius are concerned about climate change as it concerns our present and future as highly vulnerable islanders. A formal structure such as a Youth climate council will be beneficial to record, monitor and provide support to further our climate commitments from grass-root levels to advocacy and activism as young citizens of Mauritius. Thereby putting into light the work that youth are already doing and how important they are as stakeholders in climate change and emphasis our inclusion in consultation processes, climate policy and decision making and ensure intergenerational equity.

Key Recommendations on Gender equality

The NDC is gender-sensitive but needs to put in place a well-defined plan and strategy for gender-mainstreaming and gender responsive actions across all sectors impacted by climate change (agriculture, transport, energy, industries and processes, education, health, etc) than being treated as a cross-cutting issue. There is an imperative need of clear and defined plans in increasing women leadership and representation in key decision-making roles related to all sectors of climate-change. Focus on women entrepreneurship and preserving indigenous/traditional knowledge of women and poverty alleviation are good initiatives.

Key Recommendations on Emissions Reduction

Mauritius emits only 0.01% of global emissions. But the island has had one of the biggest increases in GHG emissions, with a 217% increase since 1990 due to modernisation and shifts in economic pillars. As 2018 data shows, Mauritius emits 4.75 tonnes of GHG per capita and 6.02 million tonnes of GHG as a country. In the coming years it is expected to increase even more, although the change will remain much lesser than current Global North emissions. Mauritius is an indirect contributor to climate impacts but is directly impacted by climate change as a SIDS. Mauritius is highly vulnerable to climate impacts despite being an extremely low to negligible emitter of emissions. Mauritius faces climate shocks such as intense cyclones, abnormal tidal surges, prolonged droughts, flash floods, increase of sea surface temperature, and sea level rise. Focus should be both on adaptation with co-mitigation benefits, such as Nature-Based solutions, renewable energy and just-transitions including gender-mainstreaming, indigenous knowledge, intergenerational equity and holistic approach to build climate resilience.