Africa-Press – Mauritius. A two-day National Policy Dialogue on Green Economy under the SWITCH Africa Green (SAG) project aiming to facilitate an ecological transition in line with Mauritius’s vision 2030, opened this morning in presence of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, at the Henessy Park Hotel in Ebène.
The Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Mauritius, Mr Vincent Degert, and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Dr Laurent Musango, were also present for the event which is an initiative of the Ministry in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the EU.
In his address, Minister Ramano expressed gratitude to the EU, the UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme for their assistance in the successful implementation of the SAG project in Mauritius, which he said, has played a fundamental role in catalysing action towards a green economy.
Through the Grant Scheme component, he informed, Mauritius has benefited from up to EUR 2 million to support businesses to adopt sustainable production practices and develop necessary skills to set up eco-enterprises.
Government, he recalled, has also endorsed the Country Implementation Plan comprising several recommendations for green business opportunities in three priority sectors namely agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
Given the pandemic and the recent geopolitical crisis, he said, “it is imperative that we rethink our economic, social and environmental foundations to support our efforts towards implementing the sustainable development goals.
Minister Ramano underlined that the policy dialogue will provide a forum for stakeholders to analyse existing green policies, identify gaps and formulate appropriate green policy actions.
He urged more collaborative efforts among stakeholders adding that any new development strategy should ensure economic recovery, resource security and the safeguard of natural capital.
Ambassador Degert dwelt on the SAG project developed in 2014 by the UNEP and funded by the EU with seven African pilot countries including Mauritius. The objective, he indicated, is to support their transition to a green economy based on sustainable consumption and production.
For his part, Dr Musango stated that the policy dialogue is being held at an opportune time when Mauritius is consolidating its efforts to become a greener and a resilient country.
Speaking on the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States in the face of climate change, he pointed out that it is important to ponder on human actions that can cause harmful ecological consequences and to foster a green recovery in line with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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