В Маврикии открылся офис Greenpeace для защиты океана и биоразнообразия

[Blog] Greenpeace in Mauritius: Turning Global Activism into Local Action — A New Ally By Vishal Askurn — Law, Society & Public Reasoning Mauritius is an island nation surrounded by one of our greatest assets and one of our greatest vulnerabilities: the ocean. Climate change, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, plastic pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss are no longer warnings about tomorrow. They are challenges confronting Mauritius today. Against this reality, the arrival of Greenpeace Africa in Mauritius is more than the opening of another environmental office. It is an opportunity to bring global environmental expertise, international advocacy and strategic action closer to our shores. Mauritius should welcome it. What is Greenpeace? Greenpeace is one of the world’s most recognised environmental organisations. Its modern history began in 1971, when activists sailed from Vancouver towards Amchitka, Alaska, to oppose a US nuclear weapons test. From those beginnings grew an international movement campaigning on climate change, oceans, forests, pollution, biodiversity and corporate accountability. Its history demonstrates that environmental activism can influence international policy. The Save the Whales campaign helped build global pressure that contributed to the 1982 moratorium on commercial whaling. Its campaign against Shell’s proposed disposal of the Brent Spar oil installation demonstrated how public mobilisation could force major corporations to reconsider environmentally damaging decisions. However, Greenpeace is not only about protest. It has developed expertise in strategic litigation, international environmental law and human-rights advocacy. Greenpeace-supported cases have reached courts and tribunals in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, including climate litigation before the European Court of Human Rights and proceedings concerning environmental protection and the right to protest at sea. Greenpeace also contributed an amicus brief to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in proceedings concerning states’ obligations to protect the marine environment from climate change. Indeed, that international experience could be particularly valuable to Mauritius. Why Mauritius? On 14 January 2026, Greenpeace Africa officially launched its Mauritius office, establishing its first physical presence in an African island nation and positioning Mauritius as a strategic hub for environmental work in the Indian Ocean. The timing could hardly be better. Mauritius was the sixth country in the world to ratify the UN Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction — the BBNJ, or High Seas Treaty — on 30 May 2024. The treaty entered into force internationally on 17 January 2026. This is not merely a diplomatic achievement. It gives Mauritius an important voice in the future governance and protection of the world’s oceans. Greenpeace can help translate that international commitment into practical environmental action. What Can Greenpeace Bring to Mauritius? Global visibility – Thailand. Greenpeace has demonstrated how a local environmental issue can gain international attention. In Thailand, years of campaigning with local communities helped bring the proposed Krabi coal-fired power project to an end in 2021. For Mauritius, this global network can ensure that concerns over our ocean, coral reefs, plastic pollution and biodiversity receive attention beyond our shores. Scientific expertise – Indonesia. In Indonesia, Greenpeace has used scientific investigations, satellite evidence and environmental research to expose deforestation and its impact on climate and biodiversity. Its campaigns have contributed to stronger commitments by governments and major corporations. Mauritius can similarly benefit from international research networks that complement the work of our own scientists, universities and policymakers. Strategic advocacy and legal action – Philippines. Greenpeace’s work in the Philippines shows how environmental campaigning can extend into legal and human-rights advocacy. Its climate work contributed to a landmark investigation by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, which found that major fossil-fuel companies could be held responsible for human-rights harms associated with climate change. For Mauritius, this international experience could be valuable as we increasingly engage with environmental and maritime law. Marine protection – Philippines. Greenpeace has campaigned for marine reserves and stronger protection of the Philippines’ rich marine ecosystems. Its ocean campaigns have helped push marine protection onto the national agenda. Mauritius can draw on this experience as we seek stronger protection for our own marine environment, particularly the Saya de Malha Bank, while implementing the BBNJ/High Seas Treaty. Corporate responsibility – New Zealand. Greenpeace’s experience in New Zealand demonstrates how environmental advocacy can extend beyond campaigning into legal and corporate accountability. In 2026, Greenpeace Aotearoa reached a settlement with Fonterra over misleading environmental and product claims, with Fonterra admitting that its “100% New Zealand Grass-Fed” Anchor Butter labelling breached the Fair Trading Act. For Mauritius, this experience is relevant: environmental protection also requires businesses to be transparent, responsible and accountable for the claims they make and the environmental impact of their activities. Accountability – Norway. Greenpeace’s experience in Norway demonstrates how environmental organisations can hold even governments accountable through the courts. Together with Natur og Ungdom, Greenpeace challenged the approval of three North Sea oil and gas fields. In 2025, Norway’s Court of Appeal found the approvals invalid because the global climate consequences had not been adequately assessed. For Mauritius, this experience is particularly relevant: environmental laws must not remain on paper; they must be properly applied, enforced and, where necessary, tested before the courts. Greenpeace is not coming to Mauritius to test whether environmental activism can work. It is bringing experience from countries where it has already worked alongside communities, scientists and civil society to influence governments, corporations, courts and international institutions. From Protest to Partnership Greenpeace should not replace government, scientists, businesses or Mauritian environmental organisations. It should complement them. There will inevitably be disagreements. That is not necessarily a weakness. In a democracy, responsible criticism can improve policy. The objective should therefore be partnership: •    Government provides policy and enforcement. •    Scientists provide evidence. •    Communities provide local knowledge. •    Businesses provide responsible investment and practices. •    Civil society provides scrutiny and accountability. Greenpeace can help connect these forces with the international environmental community. The arrival of the Rainbow Warrior in Port Louis in April 2026, bringing together youth, civil society organisations and environmental partners, demonstrated the potential of such cooperation. A New Ally for Mauritius We should not expect Greenpeace to solve Mauritius’ environmental problems. That responsibility remains ours. Nevertheless, we should recognise what Greenpeace brings: global experience, international networks, scientific knowledge, strategic advocacy and the courage to challenge environmental inaction. For a small island state, having such an international voice matters. Mauritius has already demonstrated leadership by becoming the sixth country to ratify the High Seas Treaty. We now have an opportunity to strengthen that leadership by turning international commitments into stronger protection of our ocean, coastline and biodiversity. Climate change will not wait for political cycles. The ocean will not wait for another policy paper. Nature will not wait for us to decide that the time is right. Let Us Stand With Greenpeace Finally, the arrival of Greenpeace in Mauritius should therefore be seen not as an intrusion, but as an opportunity. We have found an international environmental ally with decades of experience standing up for oceans, climate and communities. Greenpeace can be a powerful shield, a global voice and a catalyst for change. Mauritius needs stronger environmental protection, stronger enforcement and stronger international advocacy. Greenpeace is now here. Let us welcome it. Let us work with it. Let us challenge it when necessary. Above all, let us stand with Greenpeace in protecting the environment that sustains us and the Mauritius that we will leave to the generations that come after us. Final Thoughts Environmental protection is not charity; it is survival. With Greenpeace now present in Mauritius, we gain a global ally to amplify our voice, strengthen our laws and protect our oceans. I welcome your reflections on how Mauritius can turn this partnership into lasting resilience for our people, our economy, and our future.