Air pollution in Mauritius

 Mauritius, with its rich biodiversity, is often seen as one of the most beautiful islands in the world; however, like other countries, it also faces loads of issues regarding pollution, especially air pollution. Around the island there are several sources of air pollution which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that are harmful for not only the environment but also the economy of the island and the wellbeing of the population.

The biggest contributors affecting the local air quality are vehicle emissions from old diesel cars, traffic congestion in urban areas, burning of sugar cane before harvest, industrial activity and construction dust. These sources of greenhouse gases can significantly impact the well-being of the population, as fine particles such as PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide can cause asthma, heart problems and bronchitis, and long-term exposure can increase risks of chronic diseases. The release of these gases into the atmosphere can also affect the agriculture and biodiversity of the island, which depends on clean air to prosper. Additionally, this issue also affects the economic situation of the island, as Mauritius significantly depends on agriculture and tourism, which are put at risk due to air pollution. 

Due to the persistence of those issues, Mauritius has increased public debate on pollution monitoring, enforcing and investing in air quality monitoring systems. This has led to some improvements, even with the island being placed among the few nations that meet the World Health Organisation guidelines on yearly PM2.5 levels. Mauritius has also improved their regulations, such as the Environment Act, which provided greater authority for the regulators to enforce the air quality laws and climate policies. They have made efforts to expand the monitoring networks and encourage cleaner energy use; however, some areas are not taken into account, and therefore air pollution still remains a significant issue on the island.

To help address some of those areas, Mauritius should make some laws and regulations more strict, such as vehicle emission standards, and switch to electric or hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions. As agriculture and industries also play a big part in the development of the island, renewable energy, cleaner combustion and alternatives to burning sugar cane fields can reduce air pollution. Additionally, educating people through public awareness campaigns and school programmes can bring a significant positive change to this issue.

Compared to many other places, Mauritius is extremely lucky to still have reasonably good air quality, but this success shouldn't result in laziness. Government, business, and communities must work together, be vigilant, and invest in protecting clean air. By doing so, Mauritius can make sure that its skies stay as blue and its air as pure as it always was by acting as a community.