By Sana Elouazi
Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron paid respect, on Wednesday in Bonn, to Morocco’s commitment to climate action at COP 23 held November 6 to 17.
In a statement to Heads of States and Governments at the COP23 high-level segment, which was marked by the presence of Princess Lalla Hasnaa who represented King Mohammed VI at the talks, Macron payed tribute to Morocco for being a host country to the COP22 and for its steady commitment in fighting climate change at the international level.
The French president said that “the fight against climate change is one of the major struggles of our time.”
He also welcomed the action of the Fijian presidency of COP 23, calling for clear and firm commitments from the international community to enrich scientific debate in order to inform states in decision-making.
Macron urged European countries to honour their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and compensate for the lack of funding from the United Nations Climate Change Panel (IPCC) after the US’ withdrawal.
“I hope that Europe will replace the United States of America, and I want to tell you that France will be at the rendezvous,” he said.
Recalling scientists’ warnings against environmental degradation, President Macron called for speeding up the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement by inviting the states, the private sector and non-state actors to take action and undertake their responsibilities.
The French president, whose country will be hosting the international climate summit on December 12 in Paris, also stressed the need to help the most vulnerable countries to manage the impact of climate change, calling for putting together energies and fund-raising in order “to be at the rendezvous of the indispensable environmental transition.”
