Mauritius strengthens early warning systems through WISER ActionFirst™ Initiative

A three-day stakeholders engagement workshop on Impact/Action Based Forecasting – WISER ActionFirstTM, regrouping around 80 participants with the objective to deliberate on the new initiatives of the Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS), opened, this morning, in the presence of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Rajesh Anand Bhagwan, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Balaclava.

The British High Commissioner to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Paul Brummell; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Masahiro Kan; the Acting Director of the MMS, Dr Prithiviraj Booneeady; and the Director of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Regional Office for Africa, Dr Agnes L. Kijazi, were among the main attendees.

The workshop will be held from 28 to 30 October 2026 and include several stakeholders namely disaster management agencies, local authorities, emergency services, non-governmental organisations and the civil society.

In his address, Minister Bhagwan underscored that the Government was stepping up efforts to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness through the development of impact-based and action-based forecasting, under the WISER ActionFirstTM initiative. Referring to the vulnerability that Mauritius faced in terms of climate-related hazards, he emphasised the urgent need to translate weather forecasts into timely, practical actions with a view to protecting lives, livelihoods and infrastructure from the growing impacts of climate change.

Referring to the World Bank’s 2025 report, he noted that climate change could reduce Mauritius’s gross domestic product by up to 4% by 2050 if its impacts were not adequately addressed. He reaffirmed that climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction remained key priorities under the Government Programme 2025–2029 and Mauritius’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). Government interventions include coastal protection works, mangrove restoration, integrated coastal zone management and flood mitigation planning.

He further recalled that the WISER ActionFirstTM initiative, funded by the UK Government and implemented across Africa by the UK Met Office in partnership with the WMO, sought to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of weather and climate information, enabling communities and institutions to make informed decisions and take anticipatory action. It also supports the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative and aligns with the Strategic Plan of the MMS 2027–2031, currently being finalised.

“Mauritius,” affirmed Minister Bhagwan, “remains committed to strengthening its early warning capabilities by strengthening the effectiveness of forecasting and warning systems, improving communication of weather-related risks, and ensuring that the MMS and relevant authorities are better equipped to take timely and appropriate action to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.”

For his part, High Commissioner Brummell highlighted the importance of the partnership between Mauritius and UK in strengthening climate resilience and protecting vulnerable communities. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to international cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

As for Dr Booneeady, he emphasised that impact-based and action-oriented forecasting represented a key step towards strengthening early warning services. He explained that the approach moved beyond conventional text-based forecasts to more user-friendly products that communicate expected weather conditions, potential impacts and the actions needed to minimise risks.

28 October 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

Website: https://gis.govmu.org

Mobile App: GIS News

Topics: Weather