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[Sea Level Rise – Monitoring] [Climate Change – Initiatives]

Debate No. 3 of 30.03.10

(No. B/98) Mr M. Dowarkasing (Third Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, in regard to the rise in sea level due to climate change, he will state the measures that have been taken or mechanism put in place by Government for the monitoring thereof.

Mr Bundhoo: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that the Meteorological Services have four gauge stations for sea level rise monitoring. Two tide gauge stations are in operation in Mauritius namely at Trou Fanfaron and Blue Bay. The two other tide gauge stations are located in Rodrigues and Agalega respectively.

There is modern equipment with extra sensors comprising various weather elements including sea water temperature. Data are transmitted by these stations every 15 minutes through satellite links to the World Data Centre and the Mauritius Meteorological Services.

Monitoring result obtained so far have revealed that the sea level has been rising at 3 mm per year which is comparable with the international findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Mr Dowarkasing: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can we know since when these two apparatus are in operation?

Mr Bundhoo: The one in Port Louis is since 1986; for Rodrigues, it is since November 1986; for Blue Bay it is November 2008, and Agalega since November 2008.

Mr Dowarkasing: Will it, therefore, be possible for the hon. Minister to table the gradual report on a yearly basis of the progression of the increase in the rise in sea level?

Mr Bundhoo: I have already stated in my reply, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, that monitoring result obtained so far has revealed that the sea level has been rising at 3mm per year which is comparable with the international findings. Therefore, it is already there.

The Deputy Speaker: Next question, please!

Keywords: sea level rise, climate change

Debate No. 12 of 9.11.10

CLIMATE CHANGE - INITIATIVES

(No. 1B/550) Ms S. Anquetil (Fourth Member for Vacoas & Floreal) asked the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development whether, in regard to climate change, he will state the specific initiatives, in the short term and long term, that Government proposes to take to mitigate same.

Mr Virahsawmy: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, climate change is one of the ‘greatest challenges of our time’. As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of this global threat. In fact, the adverse impacts of climate change can be a major barrier to the achievement of sustainable development goals and poses a risk to our country’s hard-won development gains. It is important to understand that efforts to combat climate change are mainly geared towards mitigation and adaptation actions.

With regard to mitigation, only developed countries have the legal obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to mitigate climate change through reduction of emission of green house gases. They are also required to support developing countries in such actions.

Nevertheless, addressing climate change has always been high on the agenda of this Government. We have taken a series of measures with our limited means to mitigate climate change.

Allow me, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to list some of the key initiatives which are either ongoing or planned for the near future -

(i) the Maurice Ile Durable programme which also aims towards promoting sustainable development. Emphasis has been laid on increasing reliance on renewable energy, while aiming at decreasing importation and therefore reduction in the use of non renewable fossil fuel. The scope of the programme is being reviewed to cater for other initiatives to mitigate and to adapt to climate change;

(ii) replacement of all street lighting with energy saving lamps over the next five years;

(iii) replacement of incandescent bulbs with energy saving lamps. The target has been doubled from one million to two million lamps;

(iv) incentives under the solar water heater scheme which has enabled 23,628 households to acquire solar water heaters in Mauritius and Rodrigues. This scheme will continue and target another 50,000 households in the coming years;

(v) a Hydro Unit has been set up at La Nicolière and one is being envisaged at Midlands. Also, two wind parks of a total of about 30 mega watts, one at Curepipe Point and one at Plaine des Roches are envisaged by 2012;

(vi) installation works on four wind turbines in Rodrigues is in process with two units already operational;

(vii) development of a National Grid Code to enable CEB to purchase electricity from Small Independent Power Producers (SIPPs) that adhere to the democratisation programme of the Government and to the policy of promoting clean, renewable and local energy sources;

(viii) Government will be working out a green performance framework for new and existing public buildings. This includes energy auditing of five major public buildings, 27 manufacturing establishments as well as 18 small and medium hotels and 14 restaurants, amongst others;

(ix) to sustain our energy saving initiatives, an Energy Efficiency Bill which is being finalised will introduce a regulatory framework for labelling household electric appliances on the basis of their energy efficiency and give the Ministry of Renewable Energy the authority to impose carbon taxes on energy inefficient appliances. It also provides for the setting-up of the Energy Management Office;

(x) we are seeking assistance from the French Government for the setting up of an observatory of climate change which will enable all stakeholders to take informed decision;

(xi) the Land-Based Oceanic Industry will be a key contributor to generating energy savings as cold deep sea water will be used for air conditioning;

(xii) implementation of major Road Decongestion Programme, and

(xiii) planting of one million trees which act as sink to carbon dioxide, as well as maintenance of habitat.

My Ministry has also embarked on the implementation of an ECO-Village programme. It will be a multi-dimensional programme to revitalise our villages, sustain the livelihood of the communities and protect the ecological integrity of environmentally sensitive areas. This programme will enhance both mitigation as well as adaptation to the impacts of climate change and target 9 villages in the next 4 years.

This Government also recognises the need for a paradigm shift thereby calling for a positive change in our mindset and our lifestyle to make them more sustainable, and enhance mitigation and adaptation to climate change. To this end, my Ministry has developed and is implementing a National Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production in collaboration with relative stakeholders.

Government is also putting a lot of emphasis on environmental education and sensitization, with a view to sensitising the general public on climate change. While my Ministry is focussing on non-formal education

(Interruptions)

The Deputy Speaker: Order, please!

Mr Virahsawmy: It is a very important issue; I think you better listen. It is a global issue, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, they have to listen. They should learn what is happening.

With regard to adaptation measures, my Ministry is coordinating the implementation of the Africa Adaptation Programme - it is very good, listen to this - whose main objective is to integrate and mainstream climate change adaptation into the institutional framework and into core development policies, strategies and plans for the Republic of Mauritius. The Government of Japan has financed this project to the tune of Rs90 m. and will be completed by 2011.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with a view to mainstreaming climate change in our development process, devising and coordinating execution of climate change measures in collaboration with relevant stakeholders; a Climate Change Division is already operational at my Ministry as from this year. Already a number of sectoral initiatives are underway. For example, initiatives under the Food Security Fund, coastal zone protection works, protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas, construction of additional dams, amongst others.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are leaving no stone unturned. We are also actively participating at international level through the Alliance of Small Island States, the Africa Group and the Group of G77 and China to make our voice heard and are pressing for a more ambitious commitment by developed countries for reduction of green house gases at all levels, and also, to support vulnerable countries for enhanced mitigation, adaptation, capacity building, technology development and transfer, amongst others.

Ms Anquetil: Following the recent Copenhagen summit, can the hon. Minister confirm whether any decision was taken by some developed countries to contribute for funding of projects related to climate change?

Mr Virahsawmy: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there was a commitment from developed countries to contribute 30 billion euros, but, unfortunately, up to now not one cent has been contributed.

(Interruptions)

The Deputy Speaker: Order, please!

Mr Bhagwan: Can I know from the Minister whether Mauritius has prepared and submitted its second national communication to the United Nations?

Mr Virahsawmy: Yes, Mauritius has prepared the second national communication to the United Nations.

Mr Bhagwan: Can the Minister inform the House when and whether this document can be tabled in the Library of the National Assembly?

Mr Virahsawmy: Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we can table the document.

Mr Bhagwan: Another supplementary question, Sir. When we talk about climate change, the sea level also rises. Can the Minister inform the House whether his Ministry has a database for monitoring the sea level rise?

Mr Virahsawmy: This is under preparation, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. It is very important that I inform the House that we have a major programme called Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme which takes into consideration the erosion and the effect of increase in sea level on all our coasts and beaches.

Mr Lesjongard: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the hon. Minister has elaborated on a lot of projects either ongoing or implemented to reduce the green house gases in the country and this has an incidence on climate change. Can we know whether on the projects that the Minister has elaborated, Government has benefited from carbon credits under the carbon development mechanism?

Mr Virahsawmy: No, on the projects with regard to economical bulbs, the CEB is in the process of negotiating carbon credit.

Mr Bhagwan: The population still remembers the problem of flooding which occurred some years back in Mauritius. It is one of the consequences of climate change. Can the Minister inform the House whether Mauritius has prepared an inundation map and what concrete action is being taken with regard to flood prone areas and whether the Minister could circulate all the works effected following the last flooding?

Mr Virahsawmy: With regard to flooding, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and National Development Unit which has a national plan and it is being taken care of. I speak under the correction of my colleague.

The Deputy Speaker: I will allow two last questions, one from hon. Ganoo and one from hon. Seetaram.

Mr Ganoo: The hon. Minister has mentioned the promotion of renewable energy as one of the factors to mitigate climate change and he has also mentioned in his answer, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the national grid, treaties, that this grid code is essential for the operation of the small independent power producers and producers of renewable energy. Can he inform the House what is the situation so far because we have heard about the implementation of the grid code for a few years now in this House? Are we ready with the grid code? If this is not ready, we can’t start the promotion of renewable energy. So, where are we as far as the grid code is concerned?

Mr Virahsawmy: If the hon. Member had listened properly to my reply, I have mentioned that the grid code is being finalised and will be implemented very soon.

The Deputy Speaker: Hon. Seetaram, last question.

Mr Seetaram: Concerning the initiatives, be it in the long-term or the short-term, to bring change in the actual scenario, that is, to put harsher conditions and to clamp down on heavy polluters, does the Minister propose to legislate same?

Mr Virahsawmy: Yes, we are looking at this major programme of pollution control and we will definitely come forward with the principle that polluters will have to pay and we are also sensitising all the different sectors of Mauritius to encourage the different organisations to control pollution. We are also having a scheme together with the Ministry of Education in all the schools and colleges to show to the children how to control pollution. We have implemented the project of segregation of waste in all primary schools and, very soon, we will introduce the same in secondary schools.

Keywords: climate change, Maurice Ile Durable