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Rabat – Morocco is expanding its partnership with the World Bank (WB) to improve the resilience of its cities in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, a recent report from the international financial organization said.
The Urban Resilience Handbook for Moroccan Cities, put together by the World Bank, is aimed at decision-makers and technical staff to understand the necessary resources and steps to develop more resilient cities, the report detailed.
City officials from across the country also took part in an October workshop to learn how to tailor resilience plans to their cities, the organization claimed.
The effects of extreme weather events and climate change are estimated to cost Morocco over $575 million a year, the WB claims, stressing the importance of risk management to protect Morocco’s cities, which contribute a massive chunk to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The partnership manifested in 2018, when Morocco’s Ministry of Interior requested technical assistance from the World Bank to support resilience strategies, choosing Fez and Mohammedia as the two pilot cities to improve the country’s response to emerging climate challenges.
Fez is particularly vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes, says the report, while Mohammedia has an increased risk factor for coastal flooding and sea level rise.
Over the next few years, Morocco’s government and the World Bank are reportedly planning to expand the pilot projects in Fez and Mohammedia to the rest of the country, and introduce a national fund dedicated to supporting those projects.
Morocco witnessed this year severe wildfires engulf the country during the summer, burning down thousands of hectares of land. A severe drought that significantly harmed the country’s agricultural output combined with this to drive home the importance of tackling climate change as a threat in the future.
