- More than eight in 10 Mauritians (83%) say they have heard about climate change (Figure 1).
- Among respondents who are aware of climate change, an overwhelming majority (95%) report that climate change is making life in Mauritius “somewhat worse” or “much worse,” representing a 34-percentage-point increase compared to 2017 (Figure 2).
- About nine in 10 Mauritians say that flooding (89%) has become “somewhat more severe” or “much more severe” in their region over the past 10 years, while 56% say the same about cyclones. These proportions have increased by 34 and 36 percentage points, respectively, compared to 2017 (Figure 3). o Almost half (46%) of citizens report that droughts have become “somewhat more severe” or “much more severe” in their region over the past decade, a 10- percentage-point increase since the previous Afrobarometer survey in 2022.
- To respond to changing weather patterns and environmental degradation, strong majorities of Mauritians favour investing in improving infrastructure (90%) and putting pressure on rich and developed countries to provide resources to help Mauritians who are affected by climate change (82%) (Figure 4). o A slimmer majority (51%) endorse investing in wind and solar technologies, while more than four in 10 want the government to promote the use of taxis and buses that run on electricity, even if that means customers pay higher fares (45%), and to make it illegal for people to cut down trees for firewood or charcoal, even if customers have to pay more for other sources of energy (41%).
- Majorities of Mauritians say they are “not very satisfied” or “not satisfied at all” with the government’s performance on providing timely and reliable weather forecasts (81%), improving floodwater drainage systems (78%), and communicating to the public about the occurrence and dangers of cyclones and floods (76%) (Figure 5).
Most Mauritians are familiar with climate change and report that climate change is making life worse in Mauritius, a recent Afrobarometer survey reveals.
Citizens report an increase in the severity of droughts, cyclones, and floods in their region over the past 10 years, and majorities call for increased investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and want rich and developed countries to help Mauritians who are affected by changing weather patterns.
Many citizens are disappointed with the government’s efforts to provide timely and reliable weather forecasts, to improve floodwater drainage systems, and to communicate to the public about the occurrence and dangers of cyclones and floods.
Mauritius, a small island developing state, faces the brunt of the harrowing effects of climate change and in recent years has seen an increase in the intensity of climatic events, most notably flash floods.