Slight increase of Greenhouse Gas Emission

Greenhouse Gas Emission increased slightly from 2017 to 2018. Gross emissions went up from 5,612 to 5,613 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent and net emissions, after absorption by forest and land use practices, from 5,247 to 5,248 thousand tonnes CO2 equivalent.

In 2018, the energy sector accounted for the largest share of emissions (75.1%), followed by the waste sector (21.8%).

Solid Waste

In 2018, solid waste landfilled at Mare Chicose weighed 543,197 tonnes, 12.7% more than in 2017 (482,196 tonnes).

Land Use

Between 2017 and 2018, the harvested area under cultivation of:

(i) sugar cane decreased by 4.6% from 49,974 hectares to 47,678 hectares;
(ii) tea increased by 5.5% from 622 hectares to 656 hectare; and
(iii) foodcrops decreased by 1.7% from 7,780 hectares to 7,646 hectares

Water

In 2018, the Island of Mauritius received 5,252 million cubic metres (Mm3) of water from rainfall, 31.6% higher when compared to 3,991 Mm3 in 2017.

Total water utilisation was estimated at 981 Mm3 in 2018. Hydropower accounted for 40% (398 Mm3), the agricultural sector for 30% (291 Mm3) and the remaining 30% (292 Mm3) was used by the domestic, industrial and tourism sectors.

Complaints

Complaints attended by the Pollution Prevention and Control Division of the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development decreased by 18.2% from 765 in 2017 to 626 in 2018. The complaints were mainly due to: air pollution (18%), noise (15%), odour (11%), waste water (11%), solid waste (9%) and bareland (9%).