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Rabat — Morocco promises to take an active role at the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil, the country’s Minister of Energy Transition Leïla Benali told Parliament on Monday.
The North African nation plans to demonstrate how it continues turning climate ambitions into tangible results, following King Mohammed VI’s vision of making multilateral climate diplomacy a cornerstone of national environmental policy.
Benali said Morocco’s delegation will feature the country’s integrated model for sustainable development, which channels additional funding to regions and local communities. The country’s position as a climate change leader both regionally and globally has benefited from the approach.
Since 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement, Morocco has secured roughly MAD 4.6 billion ($500 million) in climate finance, coming from sources including the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and bilateral partnerships with Germany, the European Union, and UN agencies.
These investments support renewable energy projects, sustainable transportation, and climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable ecosystems such as coastlines, oases, and forests.
Several Moroccan regions have received direct benefits from this funding. Fez-Meknes obtained MAD 304 million ($33 million), Draa-Tafilalet received MAD 276 million ($30 million), and Marrakech-Safi secured MAD 120 million ($13 million). Benali described these initiatives as “models of local climate action.”
The minister also spoke of Morocco’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which introduces a participatory approach that incorporates economic and social impact assessments. She called this a “pioneering Moroccan innovation in climate planning.”
Morocco has signed bilateral agreements under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement with Switzerland, Singapore, Norway, and South Korea. One project with Switzerland alone expects to bring in MAD 6 billion ($650 million) in financing and create 6,000 jobs.
For COP30, Morocco plans to expand national participation through a partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education.
The government is set to offer 50 scholarships to doctoral students who specialize in environment and climate issues. The Moroccan negotiating team will consist of fewer than ten young experts, with 80% under the age of 35.
This youth-focused approach signals Morocco’s commitment to building long-term capacity in climate diplomacy while maintaining its track record of translating international agreements into concrete domestic action.
