Morocco Ranks in Top 10 Most Climatically Conscious Countries

Rabat – The 2017 Climate Change Performance Index ranked Morocco among the top ten most climatically conscious countries, and number one in the developing world.

The Climate Change Performance Index, published annually by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 58 countries based on criteria including CO2 emissions, renewable energy development, efficiency, and climate policy.

Morocco is the only Arab and African country to be listed in the top ten climatically conscious countries along with France, Sweden, the UK and Cyprus.

Morocco has multiplied its efforts to maintain clean and sustainable energy. “In addition to its unwavering commitment to sustainability, Morocco has a vibrant civil society and substantial experience – and a successful record – of utilizing public-private partnerships to further policy goals,” said former US Ambassador Edward Gabriel.

“Non-state actors looking to strengthen their role in combating climate change have a great example in Morocco,” Gabriel added. In partnership with the Souss-Massa Region, the Climate Chance Summit that took place from September 11-13, 2017 in Agadir, Morocco, and resulted in the Declaration of Agadir.

The nine conclusions of the Declaration of Agadir:

1. Non-state actors are stakeholders in negotiations;
2. The Facilitative Dialogue in 2018 is a key step to ensure that current contributions measure up to the goals of the Paris Agreement;
3. The Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus and must be supported;
4. Climate actors emphasize the challenges of adaptation for vulnerable territories, particularly for the African continent;
5. Current levels of promised funding are not adequate to meet the challenges;
6. The role and participation of climate actors for action is essential;
7. They highlight the importance of reflections on a sectoral level (Transport, Energy, Buildings, Agriculture) and a long-term road map;
8. Climate science can benefit from the know-how of climate actors;
9. The community of climate actors offers a unified vision regarding the transition to carry out while respecting the various challenges, needs and means.

For the last several decades, Morocco has given priority to the environment and sustainable development, and has made significant progress in favour of the environment.

Like this year’s index, the 2016 Climate Change Performance Index also ranked Morocco alongside Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium in the top ten most climatically conscious countries and number one in the developing world.

After the inauguration in 2016 of the solar energy project NOOR 1, the biggest in the world, Morocco has committed to generating 42% of the country’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 and 52% by 2030.

Edited by Patrick Shaffer