Sheila Bunwaree and Preetima Moteea
The NGO- People’s Voices Network (PVN) has been planning a roundtable discussion on the theme :’Imagining Sustainable Futures for the Common Good’ for some weeks now but the recent newsletter from the DPP’s office, the interview accorded by Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Jayshankar (Le Mauricien, 2 September 2024), the Privy Council Judgment on the case lodged by ECOSUD regarding the EIA granted to Pointe dÉsny Lakeside company by the Ministry of Environment, as well as the latest Environmental statistics from the Statistics office have prompted us, at PVN, to hold the roundtable sooner. It will take place on Wednesday 4 September at 5 pm at ICJM, Rose-Hill. More on the topics/themes to be addressed further below. PVN wishes to invite Mauritian citizens who wish to engage this debate further to attend. More so, since 2024 is an electoral year and as citizens we have the responsibility to engage our potential representatives in parliament on our key concerns regarding a “Sustainable Future”. We all are talking about inscribing Nature’s rights in the Constitution. I had also ensured this being included in the MMM manifesto in 2019 but is this enough is a question that we wish to explore together with the panellists at the roundtable.
Imagining a ‘Sustainable Future for the Common Good’ demands much more than just inscribing Nature’s rights in the Constitution and/or having environmental laws which are more progressive and protective of our ecosystems. Nataraj Muneeesamy from the DPP’s office notes:
“…si les lois peuvent dissuader, c’est vraiment notre état d’esprit qui a besoin d’un redémarrage urgent avant qu’íl ne soit trop tard. Le vrai changement commence avec nous et dans nos actions quotidiennes… »’
Nataraj Muneesamy is absolutely right and we need more voices like his. However, if decision and policy makers do not change their approach and continue with their obsession with ‘growth’’ through environmentally unfriendly smart cities, golf courses in an already water stressed Mauritius, and attracting FDIs in unproductive real estate business, not much will change. And this despite the individual changing his/her mindset. Decisions made on the altar of ‘development’’ will continue to be detrimental to Nature.
This landmark judgement of the Privy council constitutes a turning point in environmental jurisprudence in Mauritius but more importantly paves the way for greater citizen participation and enhanced agency with regards to environmental protection and greater responsibility on the part of promoters of projects with a high environmental impact. Beyond the fundamental issue of locus standi, the case gives due credence to citizens and organisations’ voices, interests and adds more weight to their advocacy actions for the protection of the environment. But do citizens know enough and are ready to become real guardians of the environment?
When Indian Foreign Affairs minister reminds us of the unequal impacts of climate change on vulnerable countries and populations, we cannot but agree with him. It is true that big emitters have to be accountable and to pay more to try and clean up their mess in the interest of the common good at a global level. But obtaining climate justice demands that efforts are made at every level, including our own since such efforts are central to our sustainable futures.
We therefore have no choice than mobilise and strategise in the interest of the common good – hence this roundtable. Panelists include: Sebastien Sauvage, Vinaye Ancharaz, Krishnee Appadoo, Stefan Gua and Juliana de Falbaire. Do join us for this important debate.