King Mohammed VI: Sahel Region ‘on Track’ to Reach Climate Goals

Rabat – The climate objectives that the Sahel region set in Niamey 2019 are on track to be achieved, Morocco King Mohammed VI said in a speech addressing the second Conference of the Climate Commission for the Sahel region on Friday.

In his speech, delivered by Head of Government Akhannouch, King Mohammed VI highlighted the contribution of the former Somali president to these achievements.

“I would like to salute the leadership of our brother, President Mohamed Bazoum, who has made it possible to pursue the operationalization process with resolve and dedication,” he said.

Noting the magnitude of the climate threat in the Sahel region, King Mohammed VI recalled that by 2030, “up to 118 million of the poorest people in Africa will be directly threatened by extreme weather events,” and that “in the G5 Sahel sub-region, it is estimated that poverty could affect an additional 13.5 million people by 2050.”

Despite the imminent threat Africa is facing, the continent only received 12% of global climate funding up until 2020, the monarch explained.

According to the King, the climate challenge in the Sahel region can be met only “through the optimal mobilization of the region’s own public funds, which should be accompanied by effective international financial support that matches the ambitions of the Climate Investment Plan.”

While addressing heads of states, King Mohammed VI called on African leaders to take advantage of the COP27 fund that was set up to support nations struggling with climate-induced catastrophes. “What other region in the world can better justify the need for this fund? No other region has been more severely impacted than the Sahel!” he argued.

King Mohammed VI further shed light on Morocco’s contribution to the climate fight in Africa. “Morocco has honored its commitment by providing the Commission with capacity building, technical assistance, and financial support for the preparation of feasibility studies to finalize its Climate Investment Plan,” he said.

“Remaining faithful to its commitment, the Kingdom is already providing the necessary technical assistance to the Commission’s actions and will act, with the same resolve, to complete its roadmap.”

While the work on implementing climate objectives is on track, the monarch pointed out that the climate actions “continue to be hampered by a number of constraints.” He concluded by calling attendees to “take pride in the wise path” that African leaders have embarked on – “the path of coordinated, concerted regional action.”