The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow has started on October 31 and is due to close on November 12. Mauritius is participating and has planned to renew its plea for international aid to fight off the effects of global warmings, such as rising sea levels and sand erosion. However, the Mauritian may be embarrassed by the UN Rapporteur’s solid and hazardous waste management findings in Mauritius.
The Prime Minister is currently in Glasgow to personally lead Mauritius’ efforts to sensitize the international community regarding the vulnerability of small island states to climate change. In the last few years, Mauritius has had to face several floods in densely populated areas, and it also has had to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels on human life in some parts of the country. In 2018, the Mauritian government dedicated Rs. 2 billion to enable the public sector to fund the high-resolution digital elevation model and aerial imagery for the Land Drainage Authority and infrastructure projects to prevent sand erosion from affecting livelihoods in coastal villages.
The Prime Minister already made the first plea in November 2017 during the COP23 alongside other small and vulnerable African countries. Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth stated that Mauritius’ was a victim of its economic success as the government cannot access international aid as an upper-middle-income country. He asked the panel and donor countries to reconsider as Mauritius does not have the financial resources to fight climate change on its own.
Second, the press conference of the UN Rapporteur on the implications for human rights in the management of the environment and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcus Orellana on Friday, October 29.
While he commended authorities to manage the oil spill following the grounding of the MV Wakashio, the UN Rapporteur also commented on the government’s weaknesses in handling solid and hazardous waste likely to impact the environment. He stated the following: “I am concerned about the very low percentage of recycling in the country. According to the figures, only 3-4% is recycled, and the remaining 96%+ ends up in the Mare Chicose landfill. This volume of plastic unnecessarily increases the pressure on the already stressed landfill, as much as it ostensibly reveals the lack of proper waste management framework.”
The UN Rapporteur further stated: “I am also concerned by the fact that a significant amount of dirty sewage waters from the landfill are carried by truck to the north of the country. This is costly, but it also poses a severe risk of accidents and increased truck traffic. These waters should be treated on-site with the requisite care. These waters, which contain organic and inorganic pollutants, are currently being treated in a sewage treatment plant and then released into the sea, with the risk that hazardous substances have not been totally eliminated prior to discharge to the marine environment.”
