​Environment Statistics – Year 2022 

Highlights

1.  Greenhouse gas (GHG)

GHG emissions increased by 3.1% from 2021 to 2022. Gross emissions went up from 5,472 to 5,642 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and net emissions, after absorption by forest and land use practices from 5,136 to 5,308 thousand tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent.

In 2022, the energy sector accounted for the largest share of emissions (78.3%), followed by the waste sector (10.8%).

2. Solid waste

In 2022, solid waste landfilled at Mare Chicose weighed 494,073 tonnes, 1.4% less than in 2021 (501,167 tonnes).

3. Land use

Between 2021 and 2022, the harvested area under cultivation of sugarcane decreased by 6.4% from 41,897 hectares to 39,199 hectares; tea plantation decreased from 669 hectares in 2021 to 659 hectares in 2022; and food crops decreased by 2.9% from 8,004 hectares to 7,770 hectares.

4. Water

In 2022, the Island of Mauritius received 4,105 million cubic metres of water rainfall, 8.7% higher when compared to 3,776 million cubic metres in 2021.

Total water utilisation was estimated at 1,064 million cubic metres in 2022. Hydropower accounted for 40%, the domestic, industrial and tourism sector for 31% and the remaining 29% was used by the agricultural sector.

5. Complaints

​Complaints attended by the Pollution Prevention and Control Division of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change increased by 9.9% from 689 in 2021 to 757 in 2022.                                                                                                           

The complaints were mainly due to: other complaints including backfilling, erosion, illegal construction amongst others (33%), noise (18%), bare land (12%) and air pollution (11%).

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31 July 2023