Green jobs and employment impacts of a green and low carbon strategy in Mauritius

Mauritius’ Climate Change Act entered into force in April 2021 and the National Determined Contributions (NDC) were submitted to the Climate Secretariat in October 2021, stepping up the island’s long-term commitment to sustainable development. Mauritius aims to reduce overall Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 40% in 2030 compared to the Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario, levelling up existing green strategies and climate policies.
At the same time, Mauritius aspires to further economic growth and job creation while addressing the increasing socio-economic expectations of a growing high-income country, as which Mauritius was identified in 2019. There is a strong commitment to develop both the economy and society whilst subduing the adverse impact on the living environment. Following consultations with and assistance from institutions at both national and international levels such as through the ILO and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy, several policies and programmes have been implemented in Mauritius to help the island to make the transition to a greener economy and to promote green jobs. With the new and ambitious climate target and socio-economic expectations, the key question is which type of policies and strategies would maximize employment creation and economic growth while at the same time reaching the climate target? This research finds that economic sectors having a potential for green jobs directly offer opportunities to reduce GHG emissions. While the link between the creation of green jobs and a transition to a green/low carbon economy seems evident, there is a need to establish their mutual benefits and possible pathways.