Climate Change: Mauritius Without Half of Its Beaches in 2050

These projections are part of the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework(NCCAPF) released yesterday by the Minister of the Environment, Deva Virahsawmy. This document can not be more official aims to push the political and economic decision-makers to integrate climate change multiple risks in the future development of the country. In addition, the NCCAPF facilitate access to international financing plans, such as the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund of the United Nations. It will be accompanied by a Climate Change Bill,which should be " quickly "presented to Parliament by the Minister. Thus, Mauritius wants to become more " proactive "in its fight against this global peril.

" Climate change is a major challenge for humanity. According to NASA, the rate of carbon dioxide reached a record peak of 400 parts per million and the trend is on the rise , "said Deva Virahsawmy who also inaugurated the Climate Change Information Center, located on the seventh floor of his ministry, to Ken Lee Tower, Port-Louis

Climate change has many faces: drought gave way to floods, temperature and sea level rise and weather patterns become more intense. If no country is immune to these risks, Small Island Developing States like Mauritius are particularly vulnerable. Especially since the country has a tourism. " Our beaches are our only natural resource ", emphasized the Minister.

The NCCAPF comes in several parts. It establishes national policy adaptation over 20 years, offers coping strategies and an action plan for the next decade and establish a plan for financing for three years. It also contains forecasts of how climate change will affect the infrastructure and different sectors of the economy, including tourism, fisheries, health.

" It is a basic document to help the country cope with climate change impacts  climate change during the next 20 years. A major challenge will be to adapt to temperature changes "says Deva Virahsawmy.