This study was commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the request of the Government of Mauritius. Mauritius has made significant steps towards a greener economy with the new government agenda aiming to further drive this transition. Mauritius has been a beacon for other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in terms of sustainable development. In the last decade, Mauritius has been investing in renewable energy, clean waste management technologies and in public transport infrastructure. The new government programme, ‘Achieving Meaningful Change’, has ambitious targets in the area of green economy (GE) - from generating 35 per cent of electricity from renewable energy to large increases in recycling rates (GoM, 2015).
Green Economy Assessment Mauritius demonstrates that a green economy transition offers Mauritius further opportunities for sustained economic growth, energy and water savings, increased agricultural productivity and green jobs. According to the analysis in this report, green economy investments are expected to generate better economic outcomes than a business-as-usual (BAU) investment allocation, with GDP 6 per cent higher in the GE case relative to BAU, by 2035. The cost of such public and private investment will be approximately 0.9 per cent of GDP per year between 2014 and 2035. However, this will generate annual savings of around 3 per cent of GDP. The report examines greening initiatives and opportunities in seven key sectors of the Mauritian economy and the impacts of implementing various policies against a business-as-usual scenario. This report includes the sectoral analysis on agriculture, energy, manufacturing, transport, tourism, water, and waste.