The Moroccan model of sustainable development continues to attract international recognition.
Rabat – International NGO Climate Chance for observing non-state climate action has showcased two Moroccan initiatives in its 2019 synthesis report. The climate policy in the region of Souss-Massa, central Morocco, and a sustainable semi-Olympic swimming pool in Marrakech both appear in the report.
The observatory presented the region of Souss-Massa as a case study and analyzed its climate policy governance and integration.
“The Local Plan to Combat Climate Change (PTRC) of the Souss-Massa region, is the first local climate plan of all Morocco that has operationalised at a regional level the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD),” says the report.
The plan “outlines climate vulnerabilities and formulates the region’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory.” The plan also “provides a ‘bank’ of mitigation and adaptation projects representing a total investment of €2.98 billion,” notes the document.
In terms of GHG tracking, the report presents statistics about energy emissions in the region. Transport causes 45% of GHG emissions, followed by building (27%), agriculture (15%), and industry (10%).
The plan aims to reduce GHG emissions in the region by 75% by 2030, adds the report.
“To reach its goals, the Souss-Massa region focuses mainly on the decarbonation of its energy mix and its sunlight rate which is one of the highest of the Kingdom. The solar potential is added onto wind potential on the seafront,” explains the publication.
The report also lists some of the pilot projects in the region such as the development of photovoltaic potential maps by the Ibn Zohr University and the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN), and the development of solar ovens to reduce the use of wood for cooking in rural households.
The observatory report featured the Abdelmoumen dam pumping energy transfer station and the Noor Tata solar power plant.
The Souss-Massa region is home to more than 2.7 million Moroccans, representing 600,000 families. Its economy is heavily based on agriculture, and tourism as a secondary sector.
The second project worth noting, according to the observatory, is the Sidi Youssef semi-Olympic swimming pool in Marrakech.
The building respects both “international swimming standards and sustainability principles.” The Ministry of Youth and Sports decided to use timber in the construction of the pool to reduce the use of concrete. The building also has an insulated roof and external walls, eco-friendly heat pumps and 12 solar panels. The design of showerheads and sinks reduces water consumption.
“The building’s overall GHG emissions amount to 5.48 kgCO2/ m²/year (traditional pools emit on average 6.25 kgCO2/ m²/year),” says the report.
The international recognition from the observatory consolidates Morocco’s vision of sustainable development and its role as a regional leader in terms of renewable energy.
