Speech by Hon. D. Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
MEXA Carbon Footprint Mitigation Project
Award of Certificate
18th April 2011
La Canelle – Domaine Les Pailles
Mr. Guillaume Hugnin, Chairman of MEXA
Mrs. Danielle Wong, Director of MEXA
Mr. Benoit Schmitt, Consultant of Rexizon Ltd
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon,
It gives me great pleasure to be in your midst this afternoon for the Award of
Certificates for the MEXA Carbon Footprint Mitigation Project. I would like to
seize this opportunity to thank and congratulate Mrs. Danielle Wong, Director of
the MEXA, for this laudable initiative. I also wish to put on record the enthusiasm
and dedication of Mrs. Wong and her team for the efforts undertaken to
mainstream environmental issues in industry. Indeed, this highlights the role that
the business community can take in its management and business practices to
reduce impacts on the environment.
I also understand that out of the ten companies which were identified to
participate in this project, seven responded positively. This is definitely very
encouraging. Not only such efforts enhance credibility of these organisations
towards environmental protection and sustainable development, but from now
on, their commitment will be translated by concrete actions that can be
measured and monitored systematically.
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Speech by Hon. D. Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This initiative of greening and reducing carbon footprint in the business sector in
Mauritius is arriving at an opportune time. Indeed, 2012 will be a crucial year in
global environmental governance.
1. 2012 is the landmark year when the Kyoto Protocol, which makes it
compulsory for rich nations to curb down their emissions of greenhouse gases,
expires. While the international community, especially developed nations, has
been grappling with the issue, a post-2012 agreement will have to address
factors that have stood in the way to the success of the Kyoto Protocol. One
hope with a post-Kyoto agreement is that the world will use it to its
environmental advantage, essentially making it economically beneficial and
also carbon neutral. In addition, besides working together towards mitigating
climate change, there should also be a shift in focus to adaptation as well as
the establishment of a global carbon-exchange market.
2. 2012 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment
and Development or the Earth Summit held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. You will
surely recall that the Earth Summit marked a turning point as regards
development patterns and since then sustainable development has become
the globally accepted development paradigm involving harmonisation
3. In 2012, countries will again be meeting in Rio for the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development also commonly known as the “Rio+20” Conference.
This major conference not only aims at securing renewed political
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Speech by Hon. D. Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
commitment for sustainable development, at reviewing progress to date or
assessing the gaps in implementation, but it will also address new and
emerging
challenges
for
greater
convergence
towards
sustainable
development. For 2012, two specific themes have been identified: (i) “a green
economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”
and (ii) “the institutional framework for sustainable development”.
Mauritius will also actively participate in the Rio+20 Conference, where we will
have much to share with and learn from other nations in terms of good practices
and information. We will certainly benefit from experiences on how to reshape
and refocus policies towards a green economy by adopting tools of sustainable
consumption and production.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Progress towards sustainable development must be supported by all stakeholders
and every step taken towards sustainable development is of value. While
Government is committed towards achieving sustainable development, you will
surely concur that the business community and industries have a key role to play
in achieving “Maurice Ile Durable” too. The five central themes of MID, that is: the
5 E’s - Energy, Environment, Employment, Education and Equity are also of direct
significance for businesses and industry.
The MEXA Carbon Footprint Mitigation Initiative is a very encouraging and
laudable project. It is also an important stepping stone that will enable industries
optimise resource use efficiency as well as embark on various environment or
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Speech by Hon. D. Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
energy management systems. I will also go a step further by asserting that this
initiative will also lead us towards a “green economy”.
A “green economy” is one that not only improves human well-being and lessens
inequality but also reduces environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In that
sense, a green economy is seen as holding the key to faster implementation of
sustainable development and serves as a lever to activate actions in all economic
sectors, through new economic processes and increased incentives that are
characterized by low inputs, low emissions, low wastes, higher efficiency in
resource uses and better product designs.
However such initiatives require strong leadership and commitment, especially at
top management level to make things happen. I can therefore only make an
appeal to all the heads of companies present here today that you continue to
show the same commitment and drive to achieve even better results.
Allow me to enumerate some of the initiatives that my Ministry has undertaken
to support and facilitate Environmental Management System at national level. My
Ministry made industrial waste auditing mandatory under the Environment
Protection Act to ensure that industries closely monitor and mitigate their
environmental impacts. An added benefit of industrial waste auditing is that it
aims at developing a culture of industrial compliance and encourages the
adoption of cleaner technology and optimises resource use efficiency. We have
noted that several large industries after abiding by the industrial waste audit
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Speech by Hon. D. Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
regulations are now taking a step further by adopting Environment Management
Systems such as ISO 14001.
The National Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production is
furthermore closely linked to national development priorities such as: promoting
economic growth and competitiveness, environmental protection, water and
energy security, just to name a few. I would add that sustainable consumption
and production is of significant importance to industries as it entails resource use
efficiency, integrated waste management and recycling or improvement in
market supply of sustainable products and services.
My Ministry is in the process of developing the national MID Policy and Strategy.
This process will involve multi-stakeholder consultation as the pursuit of
sustainable development requires enhanced synergy among all stakeholders as
well as between policies and strategies. It is my sincere hope that the business
sector collaborates closely with government and participates actively in the
preparation of this strategy document.
Before ending, I would like to encourage the seven companies, which have been
proactive and which have shown leadership in participating in this project. I again
thank the MEXA for having initiated this project and hope that future public and
private sector collaboration and partnerships in sustainable development projects
have the same successful outcome.
Thank you for your attention.
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