Mauritius, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, has set an ambitious target to produce 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, significantly reducing its dependence on imported fuel. The UN is supporting this transition with a two-pronged approach: assisting the government in designing policies to promote electricity generation from offshore wind energy, while catalyzing private sector financing and addressing skills gaps, especially for young women and men in renewable energy technology.
Zeenat Guness Goolbar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, highlighted the impact of this collaboration:
“The Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities has greatly benefited from UN support in our energy transition journey. The deployment of offshore wind energy technologies is a key part of our renewable energy roadmap, and the assistance provided under the Joint SDG Fund project for preliminary studies was very timely. We are now focused on feasibility studies and environmental and social impact assessments as the next steps in implementation.”
Seychelles faces significant challenges in waste management. The island generates around 80,000 tons of waste annually, most of which is directed to its primary landfill. The main landfill is projected to reach full capacity by 2025, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions.
The Joint SDG Fund project is addressing this issue by supporting Seychelles in implementing its Solid Waste Management Plan (2020-2035) and developing a Circular Economy Roadmap. These initiatives aim to drive sustainable waste management systems, support women-led SMEs and youth entrepreneurs in tapping circular economy opportunities, and promote gender equality in the waste sector through sensitization efforts.
Flavien Joubert, Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, underscored the importance of this initiative:
“This project has helped fishers and small businesses kickstart circular economy activities. We have seen increased participation from NGOs, startups, and youth-led enterprises, with innovative projects that create livelihoods from waste products. This is an incredible step forward for sustainable development in Seychelles.”
Lisa Simrique Singh, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, emphasized the importance of integrated and collaborative approaches:
“This is an exciting initiative that unites six UN agencies to support the renewable energy landscape in Mauritius and the circular economy in Seychelles. Sustainable Development Goals resonate deeply with these island nations, demonstrating how integrated approaches can maximize investments and tackle issues like biodiversity, pollution, and climate action.”
Through innovative approaches, collaborative action, and the power of partnerships, Mauritius and Seychelles are charting a path toward a safer, more resilient, and inclusive future. These efforts showcase the importance of a whole-society approach, uniting public and private sectors, civil society organizations, and international partners to address the climate crisis.
By leveraging their ocean resources and advancing circular economy practices, Mauritius and Seychelles are leading by example, inspiring the global community to take bold steps in the fight against climate change.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
