Sustainability is no longer a distant concept. For island nations like ours, it’s an urgent call to action. On this year’s World Environment Day, we took a moment to pause, reflect, and reimagine how Mauritius can protect what truly matters, from our coastlines to our communities.

Not so long ago, I didn’t think much about sustainability. Like many others, I saw it as something abstract – important, yes, but somehow removed from my everyday life. But awareness often comes in waves. One day, it clicks. That “prise de conscience” changes how you see things. For me, that moment grew stronger this year on the World Environment Day (5 June), when our Team at EllGeo Re took part in a sustainable team-building activity. We visited Île au Fouquet, also known as Île au Phare, where we cleaned the shoreline and reflected on our shared responsibility towards the marine environment. It was more than just a group activity, it was a turning point in how we relate to our island and its fragility.

Coastal erosion: the quiet emergency

That day by the sea also reminded us of a growing problem we can no longer ignore: coastal erosion. Across Mauritius, entire stretches of beach are disappearing; some areas have lost up to 20 metres of coastline in a decade.

But this isn’t just about nature, it’s about livelihoods. With nearly a quarter of our Gross Domestic Product tied to tourism, the loss of our beaches could trigger serious economic and cultural consequences. What happens when tourists no longer come for our white sand and turquoise lagoons? And more importantly, what happens to our identity as islanders if we lose the very shores that define us?

Is it the time to rethink tourism?

So where do we go from here? Do we simply protect what’s left of our coastline or do we rethink tourism altogether?

Mauritius has far more to offer than beach holidays. If we want to stay relevant and resilient, we need to expand our narrative:

• Eco-tourism: Explore our mountains, waterfalls and endemic forests through hiking, nature walks and zip-lining.
• Wellness tourism: Develop retreats centered on yoga, Ayurveda and mindfulness, using the island’s peaceful natural surroundings.
• Agri-tourism: Offer farm stays and regenerative agriculture experiences that reconnect visitors to the land.
• Marine restoration tourism: Involve tourists in coral reef planting, lagoon clean-ups and marine conservation.

By embracing this diversity, we not only protect the environment, we also create more inclusive and resilient economic opportunities.

The private sector’s role

But reimagining Mauritius isn’t just a job for government. The private sector has a major role to play, especially industries like ours that deal directly with risk.

At EllGeo Re, we see how climate risk is changing the way we think about insurability, business continuity, and long-term strategy. That’s why we have taken concrete steps to integrate sustainability into everything we do.

• We have signed the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance, joining other African insurers committed to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• We have appointed a Sustainability Champion and are working closely with IBL’s sustainability team to build a comprehensive roadmap.
• We help our clients understand and adapt to environmental risks, often by helping them secure reinsurance support for green or climate-resilient projects.

Turning values into everyday action

Sustainability isn’t just about frameworks and strategies, it’s also about daily habits and corporate choices. At EllGeo Re, we live our values through practical steps:

• We favour paperless contracts and use LED lighting in our office.
• We take part in at least one sustainable initiative per year, from tree planting in Ebony Forest to cleaning up Île au Fouquet.
• We support community development through the Fondation Joseph Lagesse and other CSR initiatives.
• We are actively addressing the gender gap, with 60% of our team made up of women, and half of our Senior Management being women.
• We support flexible working, remote options and a healthy work-life balance.

These may seem like small things, but together, they shape a culture of responsibility and impact.

A call to all Mauritians

Climate change is not something happening elsewhere. It’s happening here; on our beaches, in our lagoons, and across our weather patterns.

And so, the call is for all of us: citizens, businesses, government and youth. We must rise, not as spectators, but as guardians of our island. It’s about saving our identity, our economy, and our future.

The objective is to go beyond surface-level change and instead build a new mindset, one where sustainability is at the core of how we live, work, grow, and dream. Mauritius can still be the island of dreams but only if we build a new one. One rooted in respect for our land, our people, and our planet.