AGP Executive Report

Climate Diplomacy: Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool joined Pacific leaders at a Pre-COP gathering in Fiji and Tuvalu, where Tuvalu’s climate minister called for ambitious fossil-fuel phase-out talks ahead of COP31. Water Stress: Water shortages and supply disruptions helped fuel recent protests in Mauritius, alongside rising living costs and anger after a police shooting. Indian Ocean Science: Mauritius’s Dr Rezah Badal was elected vice-chair of UNESCO’s Indian Ocean oceanographic panel, which aims to strengthen regional research, hazard forecasting and sustainable marine management. Marine Protection: Kenya joined nine countries in efforts to tackle Indian Ocean pollution, while Tanzania called for stronger action under the Nairobi Convention.

Ocean Cooperation: Mauritius’s Dr. Rezah Badal has been elected vice-chair of UNESCO’s Indian Ocean science body, which aims to strengthen regional research and cooperation on marine resources, coastal hazards and changing ocean conditions. Water Stress: Mauritius’s worst unrest in decades was fuelled in part by water shortages and rising living costs. A severe drought has depleted reservoirs and prompted water-use restrictions, bringing the island’s water security into sharp focus. Energy Links: Saudi Arabia and Mauritius have signed an energy cooperation agreement covering renewables, electricity, clean hydrogen and other sectors, opening avenues for investment and technical exchange.

Indian Ocean Science: Mauritius’s Badal Mohammed Rezah was elected vice-chair of UNESCO’s Indian Ocean oceanographic panel, which will coordinate research and action on marine hazards, climate variability and sustainable use of ocean resources. Water and Unrest: Severe water shortages amid drought and rising living costs have helped fuel Mauritius’s worst unrest in decades; protests intensified after a police shooting, disrupting daily life and prompting some school closures. Energy Cooperation: Mauritius joined Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and Cyprus in energy agreements covering renewables, efficiency and climate-change mitigation, alongside conventional energy cooperation. Climate Talks: Mauritius was one of only two countries outside the Pacific represented at the recent Fiji-Tuvalu Pre-COP gathering, where Pacific leaders pressed for ambitious climate action.

Water Stress and Unrest: Mauritius’s worst unrest in decades followed protests over water shortages and rising living costs. A severe drought has emptied reservoirs and led to water-use restrictions, adding pressure on households. Indian Ocean Protection: Mauritius joined nine countries in adopting measures to tackle plastic pollution, prepare for major marine pollution incidents and protect shared coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs. Energy Cooperation: A new Mauritius–Saudi Arabia agreement sets out cooperation on renewable energy, electricity, energy efficiency and climate-change mitigation. Climate Talks: Mauritius was among two countries outside the Pacific represented at the recent Pre-COP gathering, where Tuvalu’s climate minister called for fossil-fuel phase-out to remain part of COP31 discussions.

Water Crisis and Unrest: Mauritius’s worst riots in decades have erupted amid water shortages, drought and rising living costs. Reservoirs have run low, prompting water-use restrictions, while protests escalated after a police shooting. Climate Diplomacy: Mauritius was among the few countries outside the Pacific represented at the recent Pre-COP summit, where leaders discussed preparations for climate negotiations. Marine Protection: Countries at the Nairobi Convention’s COP12 agreed on regional action against plastic pollution and plans to protect mangroves, seagrass and critical marine habitats; Mauritius was among the participating states. Energy Cooperation: A new Mauritius–Saudi Arabia agreement sets out cooperation across energy, including renewables and climate-change mitigation.

Water Crisis: Mauritius is facing its worst unrest since 1999, with protests over water shortages and living costs escalating after police shot and injured a woman on October 9. A severe drought has drained reservoirs, prompting water-use restrictions and school closures. Energy Cooperation: Mauritius signed an energy cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia covering renewable energy, electricity, efficiency and climate-change mitigation, alongside wider oil and gas cooperation. Western Indian Ocean: Regional countries, including Mauritius, have agreed on measures to tackle plastic pollution and strengthen marine protection, with new plans for mangroves, seagrass and critical habitats.

Energy Cooperation: Mauritius has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to explore cooperation in renewable energy, electricity, energy efficiency, storage and climate-mitigation technologies, alongside oil and gas and other energy fields. Western Indian Ocean: Countries at the Nairobi Convention’s COP12 agreed on a regional plastics strategy, plans for marine-pollution emergencies, and measures to protect mangroves, seagrass and critical habitats. Marine Wildlife: A study drawing on whale records from Mauritius and neighbouring waters warns that climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat this century. Researchers say protections may need to adapt as suitable areas shift.

Energy Cooperation: Mauritius has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to expand energy cooperation, including renewable energy and climate-change mitigation. Western Indian Ocean: Countries including Mauritius adopted regional measures on plastic pollution, marine pollution response, mangrove and seagrass protection, and critical habitats at the Nairobi Convention’s COP12. Whale Habitat: A study drawing on sightings and recordings near Mauritius and other southwest Indian Ocean islands warns that some sperm whale habitat could shrink this century, strengthening the case for flexible, wide-ranging ocean protection.

Western Indian Ocean: Nairobi Convention members adopted regional measures on plastic pollution, marine litter, seagrass, mangroves and critical habitats, alongside plans to strengthen responses to marine pollution emergencies. Marine Wildlife: A study drawing on 744 sperm whale detections around Mauritius and neighbouring waters warns that climate change could shrink key habitats this century, strengthening calls for wide-ranging, flexible ocean protection. Climate Action: Mauritius urged greater unity among small island states as the gap between climate commitments and implementation widens.

Western Indian Ocean: Nairobi Convention countries agreed on regional measures against plastic pollution, including a technical working group and a marine pollution response plan. They also adopted strategies for seagrass and mangroves and an outlook to guide protection of critical habitats. Whale Conservation: A study warns that climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat in the southwest Indian Ocean, including waters around Mauritius. It identifies long-term core areas near Mauritius and the Seychelles and calls for protection that can adapt as habitat shifts. Climate Diplomacy: Mauritius urged greater unity among small island states as the climate implementation gap widens.

Ocean Protection: A southwest Indian Ocean study warns that climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat, including waters around Mauritius. Researchers identify lasting core habitat near Mauritius and the Seychelles, and say protection must adapt as suitable areas shift. Regional Cooperation: Tanzania is urging stronger implementation, cooperation and sustainable funding for the Nairobi Convention, which addresses climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and coastal degradation across the Western Indian Ocean. Climate Diplomacy: Mauritius has called for greater unity among small island states as the gap between climate pledges and action widens.

Western Indian Ocean: Tanzania has urged stronger cooperation, financing and follow-through under the Nairobi Convention, citing climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and coastal degradation as growing regional threats. Whale Habitat: A study finds climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat in the southwest Indian Ocean, but identifies long-term core areas near Mauritius and Seychelles. Researchers say protection must adapt as suitable habitat shifts. Island Climate Action: Mauritius has called for greater unity among small island states as the climate implementation gap widens. Regional training on Indian Ocean environmental management plans also brought together 21 participants from 12 nations.

Western Indian Ocean: Tanzania is urging stronger cooperation and sustainable financing under the Nairobi Convention to tackle climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and coastal degradation across a region that includes Mauritius. Whale Protection: Research finds climate change could shrink sperm whale habitat in the southwest Indian Ocean, but waters off Mauritius and Seychelles may remain important refuges. Scientists say protection must adapt as suitable habitat shifts. Climate Action: Mauritius has called for unity among small island states as the gap between climate promises and implementation widens. Ocean Planning: An Indian Ocean training programme has equipped 21 participants from 12 countries to develop environmental management plans.

Climate Diplomacy: Mauritius has urged small-island states to unite as the gap between climate commitments and action widens, keeping delivery and resilience in focus. Indian Ocean Stewardship: An environmental management programme trained 21 participants from 12 countries, supporting stronger regional capacity to manage marine activities. Community Resilience: A recent commentary on Mauritius highlights trust as a foundation for building resilient communities in the face of climate challenges.

Climate Action: Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool urged small island states to press for stronger climate action, warning that rising seas are eroding land and threatening livelihoods, food security and housing. He said emissions are rising while the gap between climate promises and delivery remains wide. Ocean Protection: An International Seabed Authority training programme brought 21 participants from 12 countries together to develop expertise in marine environmental management plans, including plans for the Indian Ocean. The plans aim to protect biodiversity and ocean ecosystems. Climate Finance: Pacific leaders warned that COP31 must deliver practical action and funding, not another round of talks, as Tuvalu faces rising seas and works on land reclamation to protect its future.

Island Climate Leadership: Mauritius’s H.E. Milan Jaya Nyamrajsingh Meetarbhan was elected to the SIDS DOCK Executive Council, which is focused on climate resilience and energy transformation for small island states. Climate Action: President Dharam Gokhool urged SIDS to unite and press for stronger climate action, warning that rising seas are eroding Mauritius’s limited land and threatening livelihoods, food security and housing. Ocean Protection: The International Seabed Authority trained participants from 12 nations in marine environmental management planning, including work on plans for the Indian Ocean. South Korea and the Indian Ocean Commission also agreed to cooperate on climate response, fisheries and food security.