Breaking the Cycle: Can Humanity Rise to the Climate Challenge?

The Climate Show, an immersive and interactive event designed to engage young people in the fight against the climate crisis, landed in the Octave Wiehe Auditorium at the University of Mauritius from March 3–5. Organized by the Indian Ocean Commission and the European Union, this groundbreaking initiative has already captivated 50,000 attendees in Belgium and France. Its mission? To turn awareness into action by empowering youth to confront the existential threats of climate change—and inspire them to lead the charge toward a sustainable world. Students at the university had the chance to engage in online quizzes and ask questions to deepen their understanding of the subject.

Introduction: The Clock is Ticking

Imagine a world where your choices—like buying a shirt online or planning a holiday—contribute to a planet on the brink of becoming "uninhabitable as we know it." This is the stark reality explored in the climate-focused event that I attended as an academic staff of the Faculty of Agriculture together with our students.  The question at its core is urgent: **Are humans doing enough to address the climate crisis?** The answer, it turns out, is both disheartening and hopeful.  

The Urgency of Now

The discussion opens with a chilling truth: if current consumption patterns continue, Earth’s climate will shift beyond recognition. Rising seas, extreme weather, and ecological collapse are not distant threats—they’re accelerating. Yet, despite widespread awareness, global emissions hit record highs in 2023. Why? Because **psychological and societal blockages**—denial, overwhelm, and the inertia of habit—keep us stuck.  

The show’s participants highlight that we know what needs to be done, but we’re paralysed by fear, convenience, and the illusion that individual actions alone can save us.

Individual vs. Collective: The Sisyphean Struggle

The debate between personal responsibility and systemic change is a recurring theme. Take for example the participant in the show grappling with a holiday dilemma: Should she skip a dream trip to reduce her carbon footprint, or indulge in fleeting joy? Her internal conflict mirrors millions of people worldwide.  

While individual actions—like reducing plastic use or eating plant-based diets—matter, they’re often framed as "drops in the ocean." The show’s experts argue that **collective action** is the only way to scale impact. But how do we shift systems when governments prioritize re-election over climate policy, and corporations chase profits by funding fossil fuels?  

The Consumption Dilemma: Why "More" is Killing Us

The root of the crisis isn’t just fossil fuels—it’s overconsumption. Every purchase, from a fast-fashion dress to a flight to Bali, triggers a chain reaction of emissions. Even replacing coal with renewables won’t suffice if we keep demanding "more, faster, and newer things."  

Take the example of "clicking to buy a product made in China." That single action fuels factories, ships, and packaging—emissions we rarely see but collectively perpetuate. The show’s experts stress: **Reducing consumption is non-negotiable.**  

Technology: A Plaster, Not a Cure

Techno-optimists in the show believe innovation—carbon capture, solar power—will save us. But the event’s dialogue rebuffs this: **Tech alone can’t outrun overconsumption or systemic greed**. Renewable energy investments are growing, but banks still fund fossil fuels at record rates. The message? **Innovation must pair with cultural shifts.**  

Inequality: Who Bears the Burden?

Climate change isn’t fair. Wealthy nations and individuals are disproportionately responsible for emissions, yet they’re often the slowest to act. The Paris Agreement’s 2050 goal—2 tons of emissions per person—contrasts starkly with today’s reality (e.g., the U.S. averages 16 tons).  

The show’s experts argue: **Equity matters.** A bigger population living sustainably (like Bolivia) is better than a smaller one overconsuming (like Qatar). Climate justice demands richer nations lead in both reducing emissions and funding global solutions.  

Democracy and Capitalism: The System is Broken

Politicians, tied to corporate interests, prioritize short-term gains over climate action. COP summits have "changed absolutely nothing," the audio states. Meanwhile, capitalism’s "growth-at-all-costs" mentality fuels overproduction and waste.  

A proposed fix? **Citizen assemblies**—randomly selected groups empowered to make climate decisions, bypassing partisan gridlock. Imagine a world where everyday people, not lobbyists, shape policy.  

Redefining Success: A New Story for Humanity

The show’s most powerful idea? **We need a new cultural narrative.** Instead of valuing GDP and material wealth, we must prioritize well-being, community, and ecological balance.  

Imagine measuring success by clean air, thriving ecosystems, and equitable access to resources. This shift isn’t just idealistic—it’s necessary. The event urges us to **see ourselves as part of nature, not separate from it.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

The climate crisis isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a **humanity test**. It asks us to confront our habits, rethink our values, and act collectively.  

The video ends with a challenge: **"The future is not yet written."** Our choices today will determine whether we cling to the status quo or build a world where people and planet thrive.  

Final Thought : The climate crisis is a mirror reflecting our deepest flaws and highest potential. Let’s choose hope—not by waiting for a techno-fix, but by acting now, together. 

 Click here for More info.

Increasing the resilience of small farmers to the effects of climate change- Grant to Faculty of Agriculture

Prof Sunita Facknath ( on the Right), from the Faculty of Agriculture, recipient of one of the grant awards for the project

The Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security and the Delegation of the European Union have awarded three new grants to the University of Mauritius, the Irrigation Authority and the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture for the implementation of climate adaptation actions. Projects aim at promoting climate smart agriculture initiatives among smallholders in Mauritius and Rodrigues. They will be implemented over 3 years.

The Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius, Marjaana Sall said:

- "The European Union is committed in making the Paris Agreement work and in supporting our partners in implementing it. Today's grants to increasing resilience of small farmers to the effects of climate change bear testimony of EU's strong partnership with Mauritius to fight climate change."

The Minister of Agro Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun said:

- “As an island state, Mauritius is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.  This has a direct impact on the agricultural sector because our farming activities are directly exposed to climatic conditions. We urgently need to adopt climate smart agricultural practices to increase resilience of our small planters to the effects of climate change to ensure food security”

During the ceremony, three grants for a total amount of more than 50 million Rupees were awarded to the University of Mauritius, the Irrigation Authority and the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture for the implementation of their projects, namely: i) Transformation of Belle Mare into a Climate-Smart Agriculture village for climate resilience, food security, and poverty alleviation of its farmers; ii) Improving Resilience of Small Holders to the effect of climate change; and iii) Smart Agriculture: Transition towards agro ecological climate-resilient food cropping systems in Mauritius.

Tackling Climate Change in Agriculture: Approaches to climate change adaptation and climate smart agriculture in SADC

This week  CCARDESA in collaboration with the University of Mauritius is implementing a regional training course on Tackling climate change in agriculture: approaches to climate change adaptation in agriculture and climate smart agriculture. The training was officially launched by Professor Dhanjay Jhurry, CSK, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mauritius. In his opening speech, he highlighted climate change as major concern not only to the agricultural sector in Mauritius. Prof. Jhurry reminded the audience that the world needs to shift to a more sustainable use of resources to reduce GHG and thus protect the biodiversity of the planet. This requires more investment for research and development. He emphasised the importance of strengthening the capacity of all stakeholders in the Mauritius agricultural sector to respond to the challenges posed by climate change.

 

Associate Professor Daneshwar Puchooa, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius in his opening speech remarked on climate-smart agriculture as a key approach to increasing agricultural production in the context of climate change. The Faculty of Agriculture (FoA) therefore strives to prepare their graduates and stakeholders from society for the science and private sector and updates its programmes to meet the needs. Finally, Dr Wiebke Foerch, programme officer for the SADC programme on adaptation to climate change in rural areas in southern Africa (ACCRA), has been representing CCARDESA at this event. She highlighted the impacts of climate change on agriculture in the SADC Region and elaborated on the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy, which provides the policy framework for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture sector and calls for policy harmonisation with national policies.

 

The training is being implemented by the University of Mauritius in collaboration with CCARDESA and with support of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The objective is to strengthen the capacity of the SADC member states for climate change adaptation in agriculture and climate smart agriculture. It is a 5-day training of agriculture research and extension officers from FAREI, research officers from the University of Mauritius, and agro-business representatives. The training brings together technical expertise with the Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation Climate Proofing Tool, as well as a field excursion and interactive group work.

 

To learn more about the CCARDESA training package on Tackling climate change in agriculture, click here. To see previous CCARDESA trainings, visit here. To learn more about the Training in Mauritius, stay tuned.

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This article was written by  Dr Wiebke Foerch. Dr Foerch is a Programme officer for the SADC programme on adaptation to climate change in rural areas in southern Africa (ACCRA) which is being implemented by CCARDESA in collaboration with GIZ.

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CTA - Working Session on Climate Change Solutions that Work

Working session 

“Climate Change Solutions that Work”

In development and policy discussions at different levels, there is a general agreement that the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture especially for smallholder producers in ACP region is high and, and urgent actions are required to assist farmers.

In the quest to identify and promote practical solutions that work for the smallholder farmers and their families, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) initiated a project to document existing practices, tools and policies that have helped farmers to continue to produce food in the face of changing climate, understand the impacts of such solutions, identify partners and types of partnerships to scale-up the most promising practices.

CTA organised a working session in its premises from 5 to 7 August 2015, entitled "Climate Change Solutions that Work for farmers". The workshop was attended by several scientists from the African continent to share their experiences and lessons on workable, relevant and practical climate change for farmers in order to scaling up the most promising/proven cases in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Dr B.Lalljee from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius attended the workshop and shared their findings of the research work on Agricultural Insurance as a Tool for Adaptation to Climate Change in Mauritius.

Among other objectives, the session aims to:

• Present progress of each case study and adopt a common format for preparing final documentation of individual reports.
• Peer-review each case study, conduct rigorous examination of its practical relevance as solutions to climate change for smallholder farmers.
• Identify drivers of adoption and lessons for scaling up the most promoting.
• Identify the key communication materials from the documented cases and dissemination forums to inform stakeholders. 
• Identify key partners and type of partnership arrangements to raise resources for scaling-up the most promising case that are proven to be most appropriate for farmers. 

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Read more about CTA and partners' interventions to move agriculture further up the climate change agenda here

International Scientific Conference - Climate Change 2015

7-10 July 2015. Paris, France. This four-day Scientific Conference “Our Common Future under Climate Change” was the largest forum for the scientific community to come together ahead of the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP21), which will be hosted by France in December 2015 (“Paris Climat 2015”). This PAEPARD blogpost focused on the contributions / presentations from Africa and can be accessed here.

Dr B. Lalljee presented a paper at the conference.

Climate-Smart Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa - Case of Mauritius

 

Climate change is already a reality. The latest assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that global climate change is already damaging crops and undermining food production capacity in much of the world, particularly in poor countries. Negative impacts on crop yields have been more prevalent than positive ones. Even worse, that is often the case for staple foods such as wheat and maize, which feed much of the global population.

Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The region is marked by strong dependence on rain-fed agriculture and natural resources, high levels of poverty, and limited infrastructure in rural areas. This region is projected to suffer further water stress, more frequent droughts, floods, and other alteration in rainfall patterns, leading to lower agriculture yields unless adaptation measures are taken. Furthermore, climate change is likely to reduce the land suitable for agriculture, potentially leading to increases in clearing of native forest and pasture lands for crop cultivation, with a consequent significant increase in carbon release. The effects of climate change on African agriculture thus are severe and a major challenge.

In this context, the barriers and opportunities for promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in sub-Saharan Africa have been document by various consultants in the following countries. This means agriculture that: (i) increases productivity and income, (ii) adapts and builds resilience to climate change, and (iii) reduces greenhouse gas emissions where needed.

Scoping studies through the work of national consultants and assessed practices and policies in 15 Eastern and Southern African countries (Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Each of those consultants conducted literature reviews, policy reviews, and key-informant interviews with multiple stakeholders in their countries. The report for Mauritius is available at the FANRPAN  website.

Results

Our findings reveal that the onset impacts of climate change (particularly droughts, floods, and other alterations in rain patterns, with their associated impacts on crop yields and livestock) are already being perceived both by formal experts and by rural populations across Eastern and Southern Africa. Yet, the promotion and uptake of CSA practices remain limited. All countries have examples of both traditional and research-based agricultural practices that can be deemed climate-smart, but they are not mainstreamed and still receive limited support. Such practices include both agroecological techniques (e.g. mulching, intercropping, agroforestry, mixed farming) and agricultural biotechnology, such as high-yield and/or drought-tolerant crop varieties and livestock breeds.

Similarly, Eastern and Southern African countries generally have policies on agriculture and climate change – and do recognize the impacts of the latter on the former. Some countries have developed National Climate Change Policies (e.g. Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia), while others countries have National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) in place (e.g. DRC, Tanzania, Uganda); and/or National Climate Change Response Strategies (Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe).
However, those policies often lack instruments to achieve the goals they set. Furthermore, they are not sufficiently connected across sectors. There is a clear need for greater policy coherence to avoid conflicts and create synergies. Finally, perverse incentives that hinder CSA implementation (i.e. larger subsidies or other policy incentives for practices that are not CSA) sometimes remain in place and need revision.

Other challenges include limited material (including human resource) capacity, insufficient smallholder participation in governance, and persistent gender discrimination. There are not only financial constraints but also limited access to technology for scaling up CSA practices. Many CSA practices – notably those based on biotechnology, but also suitable machinery for conservation agriculture or small-scale farming – remain expensive and dependent on foreign actors. This reveals an urgent need for South-South and North-South cooperation that promotes the endogenous technological development of Africa.

For greater CSA uptake, it is also fundamental that smallholder, particularly women, have greater participation in policy- and decision-making. Currently, most agricultural and climate policies have been top-down and carried out through “one-way” extension services that tell farmers what to do but hardly listens to them. As a result, not only there is a governance participation deficit, but also difficult implementation. It is essential that institutions be revised to eliminate discrimination against women (e.g. limiting their participation in decision-making or their rights over land) and incorporate the views, needs, interests and concerns of the smallholders who make up the majority of farmers in Africa.
All in all, Eastern and Southern Africa hold great potential for CSA, but this potential needs to be further explored. The region has a large number of traditional agricultural practices as well as research-based programmes and techniques that have CSA qualities. CSA promotion requires concerted action from multiple actors, perhaps most notably from governments themselves, as from non-state actors who can work as CSA advocates. To the same extent that climate change poses an enormous challenge to African agriculture, it may bring about an opportunity to transform it. Not simply an opportunity to change its material basis, but one to shift its policies, institutions, and development strategies in the direction of sustainability and of a food-secure future free from poverty.

21 Climate Change Fighthers Organisations

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Recent reports from both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have confirmed 2014 as the hottest year on record. Average global temperatures and sea levels are on the rise, and precipitation in crucial agricultural zones is diminishing. The world can no longer ignore these indicators—and, particularly, the connections between climate change and global food security.

The twenty-first Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Paris November 30 to December 11, 2015. One of the largest climate conferences ever organized, the session will bring together more than 40,000 participants, including delegates representing each country, as well as observers and civil society members. This crucial conference aims to create a new international agreement on climate with the goal of keeping global warming below 2°C.

Fortunately, many innovative organizations are already on the front lines of this challenge, developing bold new ways to spread knowledge and sow the seeds of change for future generations. From providing hands-on educational outreach to influencing policy with innovative research, each of these groups has a unique approach to connecting and engaging individuals. A dynamic and powerful idea unites these organizations: small change in everyday habits, mixed with effective information gathering and sharing, can lead to big change in the long run.

To show support and solidarity for those working to find ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change, Food Tank is highlighting 21 organizations devoted to bringing about global change. 

350.org

350 is a global network including campaigns and organizing in 188 countries including Ghana, Peru, Brazil, Kenya, India, and more. Their work focuses on reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million (ppm) to below 350 ppm. 

11th Hour Project

This organization connects Americans with information on responsible practices pertaining to water, energy, and food. Leveraging the resources and experience of the Schmidt Family Foundation, the 11th Hour Project pushes for a new kind of understanding in a community attuned to human impact on the natural world.

Ag Innovations Network

This organization addresses the crucial agricultural and climate-related issues in California’s farming communities. Relying on the power of democracy for collective change, the Ag Innovations Network encourages stakeholders to connect through shared interests with an eye to managing collective resources, like soil and water, more effectively.

Center for a Livable Future

A research program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this group focuses on the interconnectivity of public health, the environment, food production, and diet. Concentrating on environmental sustainability in food production and the importance of systems-level change, the Center for a Livable Future is on the cutting edge of climate change and food systems research.

Center for Food SafetyThe Center for Food Safety (CFS) developed the Cool Foods Campaign to show food can be part of climate solutions. The campaign emphasizes eating fresh, unprocessed foods; buying local and seasonal products; choosing organic fare; eliminating industrial meat and dairy consumption; and reducing food waste. The Center also supports rebuilding soil to help producers mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)

A collaborative research program from CGIAR and Future Earth, led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), CCAFS focuses on the interactions between agriculture and climate change. From efforts to reduce rural poverty with innovative planting techniques to promoting responsible use of community resources, CCAFS leverages a myriad of research approaches and partnerships to address climate change and agricultural issues.

Top Resources: Climate Smart Agriculture

 

The  Centre for Sustainable Development has shared adaptation and climate change resources in its July 2013  newsletter where you will find current, downloadable tools and documents on these and other themes:

• Comparative analysis of climate change vulnerability assessments of selected agro-ecological systems
• Enhancing Smallholder Farmer Participation in Markets
• Alternative Agricultural Markets for Improved Livelihoods
• Good Practice. Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Guinea: farmers restore soil fertility with composted market waste
• Smallholder Farmers Perception of the Impacts of Climate Change on Rain Fed Agriculture
• Community Based Adaptation
• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Our Coming Food Crisis

Knowledge Fair on Climate Change

The Ministry of Enviromnent & Sustainable Development in collaboration with national and international stakeholders is implementing national activities under the Africa Adaptation Programme. The completion of the project is scheduled by the end of December 2012.

In this context, this Ministry in collaboration with national and international stakeholders is organizing a three-day Climate Change Knowledge Fair at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, University of Mauritius, Reduit from 29 to 31 October 2012 with a view to share findings, experiences and best practices of the different activities being implemented by the various organisations under AAP and also raise awareness of the public in general on the services being offered by the key public and private sector institutions and NGOs in relation to climate change.

You are all cordially invited to attend.

Workshop on Climate Smart Agriculture

The Faculty in joint collaboration with the FAO, organised a training Workshop on Climate Smart Agriculture Policy and Carbon Balance Appraisal of Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use Projects and Policies from 18-20 Jan 2012. It was attended by participants from our local institutions and from overseas (Madagascar and Seychelles). Mrs L Tegmo-Reddy (UN Representative), the Pro-Chancellor (Prof S Jugessur) and the Honourable Minister R Jeetah addressed the participants at the opening ceremony. The resource persons from the FAO are: Ms M Jonsson; Ms O Touchemoulin and Mr L Bockel.The participants was trained in the use of the EX-ACT (EX-ante Appraisal Carbon-balance), a tool developed by the FAO, aimed at providing ex-ante estimations of the impact of agriculture and forestry development on greenhouse gas emissions and C sequestration. The Training Workshop aims at capacity building of countries in the region in climate proofing of agriculture
and forestry sectors. This is of particular importance in Government’s efforts to build national capacity to respond to the climate change challenge.More info can be accessed at EX-ACT website.

Conference on Climate Change for the West of Indian Ocean

About 200 delegates attended an international conference on climate change, the theme was Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region: Solutions to the Crisis”, which was held in Balaclava, Mauritius from 21st – 23rd March 2011.

The delegates – scientists, representatives of regional organisations and the community of affairs and NGOs – are expected from South Africa, Australia, Canada, Comoros, Ethiopia, USA, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, The Reunion, United Kingdom, Seychelles, Sweden, Switzerland and Tanzania. The conference is being organised by the Mauritian Oceanography Institute (IOM), the Commission for the Indian Ocean (COI) and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association and the Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention.

 The objective of the conference is to improve the capacity of countries in the west of the Indian Ocean regarding the planning and implementation of the adaptation and mitigation measures to the effects of climate change on communities and ecosystems. 'The delegates will work out a regional strategy on the impact of climate change in the region, outline a regional plan for the Island states and adopt a declaration on the priority actions for research and the adaptation and mitigation strategy.

Download book of abstracts here

Climate Change- Global Work Party.

The 350.org campaign is named for the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that scientists say is the safe limit for humanity and it aims to spearhead international actions to fight climate change. The 350.org network organized s having a “ work party” all day today (10/10/10). The aim is to get people doing the small things —  planting trees,  installing solar water heaters,  fixing drafty buildings, calling elected officials — that can provide the foundation for a long-term shift in habits and plans related to  limiting human-driven global warming. In Mauritius the Global Work Party , Tree Planting , was launched at Forest Side SSS and the Mon Desert Mon Tresor primary school on Friday 8 Oct 2010. On 10/10/10, there will be over 7,000 similar climate action events taking place in in 188 countries around the world as part of “The Global Work Party.” This synchronized international event is organized by 350.org, and is expected to be the largest day of climate action in history.