Roadmap Against Plastic Pollution - Rajesh Bhagwan: "We Cannot Wait for the Law to Make Changes"

During the opening of a workshop aimed at validating the national roadmap against plastic pollution, Environment Minister Rajesh Bhagwan addressed the attendees. The event took place in Balaclava and gathered representatives from NGOs, various ministries, and private sector stakeholders, all united by a common goal: to make Mauritius a plastic-free island.

Minister Bhagwan urged Mauritians to "adopt responsible actions" to protect the environment. He stated, "We cannot wait for the law to change our behavior, especially when it concerns our health." He emphasized that the fight against plastic can only be effective if it involves a collective approach, engaging citizens, institutions, and businesses. "We must propose practical and realistic measures so that this roadmap does not remain just a document gathering dust in a drawer," he insisted, stressing the need for concrete commitment from all stakeholders.

The one-day workshop aims to finalize a strategic document outlining priority actions to be implemented: strengthening the regulatory framework, developing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, awareness campaigns, and supporting the circular economy. "I believe that in our country, we have the capacity to act with our conscience," he highlighted.

This initiative aligns with Mauritius' international commitments, particularly those made under the United Nations Convention on Plastic Pollution. Rajesh Bhagwan also noted that transitioning to a greener economy presents a significant economic opportunity for the country. "The government alone cannot solve the plastic problem," he asserted.

Junior Minister for the Environment, Joanna Bérenger, called for a concerted mobilization against plastic pollution, which she described as "both an environmental and health threat." She emphasized the need to anchor our environmental policies in facts, figures, and collaboration.

Citing data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she reminded the audience that every day, the equivalent of 2,000 truckloads of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans, totaling up to 23 million tons per year. This pollution, Joanna Bérenger pointed out, alters ecosystems, threatens food security, and impacts human health, with microplastics being detected in blood, lungs, and even placental tissues.

For Mauritius, she added, the fight is existential: "We are not major producers or polluters, but we are among those who bear the heaviest consequences." This is why the country actively participates in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution.

The Junior Minister advocated for a holistic approach involving all ministries, from Health to Education, and urged turning this crisis into an "opportunity for innovation." In conclusion, she called for collective action: "What you do for the small islands, you do for the world." This phrase encapsulates the spirit of both local and global commitment.