Climate Change: The Indian Ocean Could Lose 15% of Its Water by 2050

On Thursday, November 27, Business Mauritius and the Export Club of Réunion co-hosted the conference "Water, Climate, Future" at the Holiday Inn in Plaine-Magnien. This event marked a significant step towards establishing regional cooperation between Mauritius and Réunion, two territories facing similar climatic challenges but having developed distinct approaches to managing their water resources.

Irregular rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, and increasing pressure on existing infrastructure are some acute effects of climate change being felt in the Indian Ocean. A recent regional study even projects a potential reduction of up to 15% in water availability by 2050 due to increased evaporation and extended drought periods.

For both Mauritius and Réunion, water has become a central focus of economic and social priorities, impacting food sovereignty, energy, tourism, and investment attractiveness.

Present at the conference, Patrick Assirvaden, Minister of Energy and Public Services, stated, "Water management can no longer be considered in isolation. We must modernize our infrastructure, integrate more technology, enhance risk management, and collaborate with our regional partners to build sustainable resilience." He emphasized that ongoing reforms aim to meet public expectations while strengthening national water security.

Madhavi Ramdin-Clark, Vice President of Business Mauritius, highlighted the need for a joint response from both the public and private sectors: "We need to adapt our water management models to meet the evolving needs of our countries."

Dominique Valgresy, President of the Export Club of Réunion, underscored the economic and strategic dimensions of this cooperation: "Our responses to water challenges, often complementary, become a real strength when shared. Regional cooperation creates concrete opportunities for our businesses."

The conference, which gathered over 130 companies, concluded with a consensus: the Mauritius-Réunion cooperation can serve as a model for other islands in the region in the face of the climate emergency. Business Mauritius and the Export Club of Réunion announced their commitment to continue this work in a structured and sustainable framework.