Washington, DC – According to a new Stimson Center CORVI rapid risk assessment, the Indian Ocean Island nation of Mauritius is increasingly vulnerable to sea-level rise, loss of coastal ecosystems, flooding, and tropical cyclones which negatively impact the island’s economy and the health and safety of its citizens. The country’s reliance on beachfront tourism, stressed freshwater resources, and high population density compound its vulnerability to these risks.
Among its key findings, the CORVI report recommends that local leaders prioritize critical actions, including: protecting existing mangroves and engaging local communities in restoration processes, working with the tourism sector to improve its resilience through innovative insurance products and promoting eco-tourism, and working with the fisheries sector to strengthen the effectiveness and flexibility of government regulation in the face of new and developing threats.
Read the full report: https://www.stimson.org/2024/corvi-assessing-priority-climate-risks-in-mauritius/
CORVI is a decision support tool for leaders to help prioritize investment and action where it’s needed most to improve the safety and security of coastal cities and small island developing states. The rapid risk assessment is designed to identify priority climate risks that require more attention and pressing action. Since 2018, CORVI assessments have been deployed across five continents. The Mauritius project, in partnership with the Commonwealth Blue Charter Programme and the Mauritius Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, and Shipping, is funded by the government of Canada through the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA). Learn more about CORVI.
Mauritius, home to a unique and diverse ecosystem of reefs, estuaries, mangroves, and saltwater wetlands, faces significant risks from rising sea levels, which are increasing 65% faster than the global average. This, coupled with declining mangrove and coral reef coverage, led to an estimated 75% of the island’s 300 square kilometers of coral reefs being bleached by 2020, a percentage that continues to increase, particularly during global mass bleaching events. Situated in an active cyclone basin, Mauritius experiences regular impacts from severe tropical storms. In response, the country has taken steps to build climate resilience, aiming for an inclusive, high-income, and green future. Key measures include the 2013 establishment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center to coordinate disaster risk reduction efforts and advise on land use decisions, and the Climate Change Act of 2020, to reduce greenhouse gases and strengthen climate resilience, along with updated commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These actions show the commitment of the Government of Mauritius to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for the nation’s inhabitants.
Sally Yozell, Senior Fellow and Director of the Environmental Security Program and CORVI project lead, said, “Mauritius stands at a critical juncture. Our assessment highlights the urgent need for strategic action to protect its unique ecosystems and bolster its resilience against flooding, sea-level rise, and other climate threats. By investing in innovative solutions and fostering community engagement, Mauritius can pave the way toward a sustainable and secure future.”
Manoj Fakoo, of the Mauritius Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, and Shipping, shared that, “Mauritius, like other Small Island Developing States, has been facing significant economic ordeals in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and major environmental challenges resulting from climate change. To address the global impacts of climate change, the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping endeavours to establish itself as a significant economic force while contributing to food security, job creation, import reduction and export promotion with focus on the protection and conservation of marine resources and marine ecosystems. The blue economy model aims at improving human wellbeing and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. The Ministry is committed to developing policies to enable the sustainable development and proper management of the economic potential of our ocean and its marine resources. The CORVI report is a value addition to the work currently being undertaken as it will serve as a guide in taking the next steps of climate-smart national decision-making, including nature-based solutions, help unlock climate finance, and build economic and ecological resilience.”
Heidi Prislan, Commonwealth Blue Charter Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said “The Rapid CORVI Assessment has been a collaborative process for government and community stakeholders in Mauritius. Strategic workshops and consultations have led to key recommendations that consider the compounding threats to the country’s social, economic and environmental sustainability. These recommendations incorporate key findings from the CORVI process as well as insights from previous environmental and climate related studies. Through the Commonwealth Blue Charter, we are committed to assisting in the implementation of these recommendations and assessment outcomes.”
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