From clean energy to circular innovation, Mauritius powers a just green transition

Mauritius is demonstrating that climate action can drive both social inclusion and economic innovation. Through the UNDP-led Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, Accelerating the Transformational Shift to a Low-Carbon Economy in Mauritius, the country is advancing an ambitious renewable energy transition aligned with its commitment to reach 60 percent renewable energy by 2035.

At community level, the transition is already improving lives. More than 3,000 low-income households across Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agaléga have received rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, providing up to 100 kWh of free electricity monthly for 20 years. For vulnerable families, this translates into annual savings of approximately $120, easing financial pressure and allowing scarce resources to be redirected to food, education and small business investments.

Over 335 NGOs, charitable and religious institutions are also benefiting from solar installations, reducing operating costs and strengthening community service delivery.

At national level, the transformation is systemic. The electricity grid has been modernized through the installation of an 18 MW battery energy storage system, automatic generation control and an advanced distribution management system, enabling the safe integration of more than 200 MW of intermittent renewable energy. To date, nearly 13,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been avoided, with fuel savings estimated at $1.75 million.

Yet Mauritius is going further. As electric vehicle adoption expands to reduce transport emissions, which account for roughly a quarter of national greenhouse gases, the end-of-life management of lithium-ion batteries has emerged as a new policy challenge. 

"We can turn the challenges of battery waste into opportunities for economic growth and environmental preservation." - Dhananjay Ramfulm Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration

With support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its EU-funded Climate Competitiveness project, Mauritius is exploring a regional approach to battery recycling. A recent trade policy study proposes regulatory reforms, including Extended Producer Responsibility mechanisms and revised customs codes, to improve investment conditions for establishing a regional recycling facility in the Indian Ocean.

Mauritian MSMEs and business organizations were capacitated to use environmental data and the ITC Green Performance Toolkit (GPT) through a mix of virtual and in-country activities. A representative of DKD Co Ltd, Mauritius attested, 

"This toolkit empowers us to optimize our resource management, significantly reducing waste while maximizing the energy efficiency of our entire business model."

By linking renewable energy deployment with forward-looking circular economy solutions, Mauritius is ensuring that today’s clean technologies do not become tomorrow’s environmental burden.

Together, these initiatives reflect a holistic model for Small Island Developing States: one that combines poverty reduction, institutional strengthening, grid innovation and green industrial development — turning climate ambition into inclusive and sustainable transformation.

Find out more about what climate action the UN is driving in Mauritius: 2025 UN Country Annual Results Report Mauritius | United Nations in Mauritius