Africa-Press – Mauritius. Road to Net Zero Mauritius: Driving Innovation and Sustainability through ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Disclosure and Performance is the focus of a two-day workshop, which kicked off, this morning, at the University of Technology (UTM), Mauritius, La Tour Koenig.
The workshop, organised by the UTM and the University of Birmingham, is stepping up conversations, thinking and debates on how to accelerate the transformation of Mauritius to achieve a socially just net zero future.
It will draw on international and local knowledge and experience to understand the profound net zero leadership and skills challenges facing Mauritius and present industry-based cases of integrating ESG initiatives, tools and best practices.
The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, and the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, were present at the opening of the workshop.
Delivering his keynote address, Minister Ramano elaborated on the thematic topic of the workshop which he said is in line with the report on climate change at COP27 highlighting Net Zero initiatives that can be used by industries and financial institutions. The need, he emphasised, is to urgently progress towards a sustainable and zero-emission economic model for saving our planet and humanity.
According to the latest scientific data from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighted the Minister, emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030, and the global Net Zero emission rate must be reached in 2050 in order to reverse the curve of climate change and keep the rise in temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
To this end, he spoke of the initiatives of the Ministry currently collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail for a long-term strategy for biggest emitters sectors so that the country reaches net-zero by 2070.
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development has signed an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank to develop an ESG framework for Mauritius, added the Minister. Also speaking at the event, Minister Balgobin dwelt on e-waste pollution related to climate change.
He referred to figures published by the International Telecommunication Union in 2020, indicating that approximately 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste are discarded yearly around the world.
Yet, only 17.4% is formally collected and recycled, he observed while adding that a proper recycling process or a smarter consumer paradigm is required to save environmental health rather than sending e-waste to a landfill.
Mr Balgobin further pointed out that the Ministry is putting emphasis in the area of innovation with a view to reaping its accompanying environmental and socio-economic benefits.
New and innovative technologies can provide relevant contribution to the reduction of environmental burden and the improvement of social conditions while fostering economic growth responsibly, concluded the Minister.
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