Environment Statistics – Year 2020
Highlights
1. Greenhouse gas (GHG)
GHG emissions decreased by 10.0% from 2019 to 2020. Gross emissions went down from 5,777 to 5,200 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and net emissions, after absorption by forest and land use practices from 5,055 to 4,837 thousand tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent.
In 2020, the energy sector accounted for the largest share of emissions (70.3%), followed by the waste sector (26.3%).
2. Solid waste
In 2020, solid waste landfilled at Mare Chicose weighed 509,094 tonnes, 5.2% less than in 2019 (537,147 tonnes).
3. Land use
Between 2019 and 2020, the harvested area of sugarcane decreased by 3.0% from 45,054 hectares to 43,711 hectares; tea increased by 4.4% from 656 hectares to 685 hectares; and food crops increased by 1.7% from 7,334 hectares to 7,456 hectares.
4. Water
In 2020, the Island of Mauritius received 3,717 million cubic metres of water rainfall, 6.4% lower when compared to 3,972 million cubic metres in 2019.
Total water utilisation was estimated at 997 million cubic metres in 2020. Hydropower accounted for 39%, the agricultural sector for 31% and the remaining 30% was used by domestic, industrial and tourism sector.
5. Complaints
Complaints attended by the Pollution Prevention and Control Division of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change decreased by 22.0% from 490 in 2019 to 382 in 2020.
The complaints were mainly due to: air pollution (19%), noise (13%), waste water (11%) and odour (9%).
28 July 2021
