Speech BY
Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy, GOSK, FCCA
Minister of
Environment & Sustainable Development
on the occasion of the
Signature of A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & SD
AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS
on
Long Term Collaboration TO CONDUCT courses in
the field of coastal engineering in THE REPUBLIC OF
mauritius
Thursday 22 May 2014 at 10H00
University of Mauritius - Reduit
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Dr the Hon Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education,
Science, Research and Technology
Prof Soodursun Jugessur, GOSK, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of
Council, University of Mauritius
Prof Romeela Mohee, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mauritius
Prof Murali, Head of Department of Ocean Engineering, Indian
Institute of Technology Madras
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning
I am pleased to be in your midst this morning in the context of the
signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between my Ministry and
the University of Mauritius for a long term collaboration in the design and
development of short courses in the field of coastal engineering in
Mauritius. This training programme is an important component of a
project on ‘Climate Change Adaptation Programme in the Coastal
Zone of Mauritius’ which is being implemented by my Ministry. The
project is funded by the Adaptation Fund Board which operates under
the aegis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We all recognise that, today, the threat from climate change is serious, in
particular for our coastal regions which are affected by sea level rise.
The effects of climate change and their impacts are projected to escalate
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in the future. The IPCC, i.e., the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change foresees an accelerated sea level rise of up to 0.6 metres or
more by 2100. This dramatic situation can worsen if the potential
breakdown of the West Antartica and Greenland ice sheets is taken into
account, with sea level continuing to rise for many centuries beyond
2100. Increasing storm intensity and larger storm surges can result in
more coastal erosion and inundation of low lying areas. It is to be noted
that nearly one quarter of the world’s population lives within 100
kilometres from the coastal zones and it is projected that this population
will increase significantly in the years to come. As far as Mauritius is
concerned, may I remind you that in the recent past, we have
experienced serious storm surges in certain coastal areas like Rivière
des Galets resulting in flooding and loss of lives.
As a Small Island Developing State whose economy is largely dependent
on tourism and fisheries activities, Mauritius is highly vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change. Sea level rise, CO2 concentration and
sea surface temperature rise are considered as direct threats to the
coastal regions and the marine environment. Coral reefs’ species are
especially
highly
sensitive
and
vulnerable
to
these
changing
environmental conditions. During the past 20 years, a sea surface
temperature rise of approximately 1º Celsius above the normal maximum
summer temperature has led to large scale coral bleaching. As such,
based on projected CO2 level emissions, it is expected that the
calcification rate of corals could decrease by 2050.
As a Small Island Developing State, we have to adapt by all means to
the adverse effects of climate change and protect our coastline and our
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marine
environment.
Though
my
Ministry
has
expressed
its
determination to address the challenges and the impacts of climate
change, yet there is a serious lack of technical expertise and guidelines
on the natural characteristics of our coastal zones. According to the
Council of Registered Professional Engineers of Mauritius, there are
more than 1360 qualified engineers in the three main fields of
engineering, namely, Civil, Mechanical and Electrical & Electronic
Engineering. Unfortunately, there is no qualified coastal engineer and
the technical know-how available is based on ad-hoc and “stop-gap”
measures.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The objective of the ‘Climate Change Adaptation Programme in the
Coastal Zone of Mauritius’ which I referred to earlier is to enhance
climate resilience of communities and to reinforce their livelihoods in the
coastal areas. As I also said, one component which my Ministry has
included in this programme is training and capacity building in the field of
coastal engineering targeting professionals in the area of coastal
management on the one hand and our fellow countrymen living in the
coastal regions.
To that effect, a budgetary provision of Rs17M has
been made under the Programme. It is in this context that my Ministry
has decided to partner with the University of Mauritius with a view to
ensure the sustainability of the capacity building component.
This
partnership is being consolidated by way of a Memorandum of
Understanding which will be signed today between my Ministry and the
University of Mauritius.
Under this Memorandum of Understanding, my Ministry will, through the
Adaptation Fund:
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(i)
meet the cost of running at least 3 short courses in the fields of
Coastal Engineering, Marine Environment for Engineers and
Cost Benefit Analysis/Climate Change Economics;
(ii)
fund at least 3 modules in the field of Climate Change
Adaptation in the Coastal Zone, more particularly, linked to
design of coastal protection measures, coastal planning and
management and coastal modelling;
(iii)
provide funding for a 45 hours module on Coastal Engineering
which will form part of the Civil Engineering degree at the
University of Mauritius as from August 2016;
(iv)
fund the hosting of an international conference for the
dissemination of lessons learned on coastal adaptation
measures in SIDS and
(v)
collaborate with the University of Mauritius on research works in
the field of coastal engineering.
In order to achieve the abovementioned objectives in a perennial and
sustainable manner, my Ministry has deemed it fit to establish a long
term collaboration with the University of Mauritius.
The short courses provided for in the MoU which we are going to sign today will identify the suitability and possible adverse impacts that may
arise from particular physical works or adaptation strategies, thereby
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converting climate variability risk management into practical technical
interventions appropriate for each vulnerable site. Hence, these courses
will help to adopt the most sustainable engineering solutions on a caseto-case basis.
Under the Adaptation Fund Programme, a short course on Coastal
Engineering, composed of two distinct parts, has already been
implemented by the University of Mauritius and an International
Consultant from South Africa, Dr. Gary Mocke from Worley & Parsons
RSA Pty. Ltd. The first part of this course, which is a foundation course
on Coastal and Marine Environment for Engineers, was run in
September 2013.
The second part of the course, dealing with a range of technical options
for beach and infrastructure protection under varying weather/climate
conditions, was implemented by the international consultant in October
2013. Some 90 professionals from both the public and private sectors
have thus been trained in the field of coastal engineering.
I wish to point out here, that the Council of Registered Professional
Engineers of Mauritius has recognised the short course on coastal
engineering for the Continuous Professional Development Programme
for engineers.
Moreover, in December 2013, some 45 public officers were provided
training on Cost Benefit Analysis in the field of climate change at the
University of Mauritius. I am glad to announce that the UNDP
headquarters in New York has decided to provide international resource
persons free of charge to run an Advanced Course on Cost Benefit
Analysis relating to climate change in the coastal zones of Mauritius.
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I am also pleased to announce that under this MoU, the University of
Mauritius, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras, will soon launch a course on the Design of Coastal Structures.
We have the privilege to have in our midst to-day Prof Murali from ITT
Madras, who has come to Mauritius for the mounting of the course which
will be based on the specific requirements of our country. I am told that
Prof Murali will also be conducting a workshop on coastal engineering
this afternoon at the seat of the University of Mauritius.
I hope that
participants will take full benefit of this workshop.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to seize this opportunity to state that, with a view to palliate the
dearth of professionals in the area of coastal management, my Ministry
intends to set up a platform for training and capacity building in the field
of coastal engineering at regional level that will enable us to share our
experiences with other countries of the region on the ways and means of
coping with the impacts of climate change.
The Japan International
Cooperation Agency which is closely collaborating on implementing a
project on ‘Capacity Building in Coastal Protection and Rehabilitation in
the Republic of Mauritius’, is very keen to assist us in this endeavour.
Before concluding, I would like to thank the University of Mauritius for its
total support and collaboration in mounting the different training courses
in coastal engineering so far and further undertaking to mount and
sustain the running of other relevant courses in the future.
By way of this Memorandum of Understanding, we are taking a very
important step forward in our journey to build the technical capacity and
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bridge the gap in converting climate variability risks management into
practical technical interventions.
I therefore look forward for a fruitful and continued collaboration between
the University of Mauritius and the Ministry of Environment and
Sustainable Development for the successful implementation of the
capacity development project under the Climate Change Adaptation
Programme in the Coastal Zone of Mauritius.
I thank you for your attention.
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