Several participants, including the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management of the Republic of Mauritius, the Ambassador of the European Union, the British High Commissioner and the French Ambassador gathered in Rivière des Galets, next to Ilôt Sancho for a cleaning operation in the framework of the campaign " Climate action: Join us for ban zil pli prop". The campaign, which is part of the European Union Climate Diplomacy ahead of COP 21 Conference, has been launched by the European Union in close collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission.

H.E. Ms Marjaana SALL, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius said:

- " Global leaders from around the world will gather in Paris for COP 21 Conference to reach an agreement tackling one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century – climate change. In Paris, the EU wants to conclude a legally binding, ambitious and fair international agreement applicable to all countries. The EU supports a balanced Paris Agreement including strong action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as adequate support for financing climate action. "

The cleaning action in Rivière des Galets has been organised by Belle Verte, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management of the Republic of Mauritius, and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). It was followed by a sensitisation activity on waste disposal.

The cleaning action in Mauritius is part of a larger campaign " Climate action: Join us for ban zil pli prop" which is undertaken in the context of the European Union Climate Diplomacy ahead of COP 21 Conference, which will be held in Paris in a few days. The campaign, which started on 21 October in Moroni (Comoros), consists in several cleaning actions and sensitisation activities in Rodrigues, Seychelles (Mahe), Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli (Comoros) and Mauritius.

The campaign aims at:

•Sensitising the population about the link between human activities and climate change.

•Sensitising the population about waste, a common challenge faced by Small Island Developing States in their way to sustainable development.

•Limiting the negative impact of waste over the environment.

•Promoting public awareness about better waste management.