Speech - Signing Ceremony and Exchange of Memorandum of Understanding
Between
University of Mauritius & Ministry of Environment and Sustainable
Development
Thursday 22 May 2014 at 10 am
Venue: Council and Senate Room - University
of Mauritius
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- The HonourableVirahsawmy, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
- Professor SoodursunJugessur, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council
- Professor R Mohee, Vice-Chancellor
- Mr P Jhugroo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academia)
- Deans of Faculties & Senior Staff
- Distinguished Guests
I have great pleasure to be here today for
thisSigning of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of
Mauritius and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Under this agreement, the University will
be running short courses related to Coastal
and Marine environment – a field of priority for environmental protection. This
collaboration between the University and the ministry is a very positive step
of the academia to support national strategies to deal with climate change.
We are all well aware that Climate Change
is one of the major challenges that humankind has been facing over the
years. We have ourselves experiences
some of the consequences in the recent years with the flash floods and rising
waves.
The recent global assessment report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, has forecasted that in the next six years 200
million people in Africa will be exposed to a scarcity of clean water, agricultural
production from rain-fed farming will drop by 50%, the prevalence of malaria
will increase by 5% to 7% by the end of the 21st century and between 25% and
40% of mammal species in national parks in sub-Saharan Africa will also become
endangered.
Climate change therefore involves all sectors and
need to be addressed in a multidisciplinary research. There is need to look at urban development, food production,
manufacturing, use of chemicals and a large number of other issues. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such
as Mauritius face even further challenges such as sea level rise with coastal
flooding, destruction of coastal infrastructure and coastal agricultural
fields.
The Universities have a vital role to
play by conducting research on these
specific areas and in training and capacity building to help us address the impact
of climate change. We need a clear research agenda and most importantly,
efforts should be made to integrate sustainable development in the curriculum.
I have to mention that we have been discussing with the Maurice Ile Durable on
this issue and will hopefully recommend the way forward to the universities. I
have to mention that we have already ensured that the new university of
Mascareignes sets up a Faculty for sustainable development and through the
Rajiv Gandhi Science Center’s promotional activities, young people are being
sensitized on ecological concerns of the country.
I am confident that the University of
Mauritius and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development will be
able to increase climate resilience of communities and livelihoods in coastal
areas of the island in face of climate change.
I thank you for your attention and I wish
both parties a fruitful collaboration.
