Rabat – During his participation at COP29 in Baku, Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch spotlighted the country’s leadership in climate adaptation and sustainable energy.
In his address at the event today, Akhannouch outlined Morocco’s initiatives to combat climate change and its commitment to renewable energy and climate-resilient agriculture.
He said that Morocco has steadily advanced its energy transition, achieving a significant milestone with renewables accounting for approximately 40% of the country’s electricity capacity. This figure is projected to rise to 52% by 2030.
Akhannouch also spoke of the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (Triple A), launched by King Mohammed VI at COP22 in Marrakech in 2016. This initiative aims to transform African agriculture, with focus on soil management, expanded irrigation access, and the integration of resilient agricultural technologies.
This initiative carries “a bold vision: transforming African agriculture and protecting the environment to face climate change,” Akhannouch said.
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In addition, he announced Morocco’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which incorporates more ambitious decarbonization goals and several new sustainable projects. Among these are initiatives to desalinate seawater using renewable energy, utilize biomass, and develop green hydrogen projects.
The head of the government emphasized that Morocco is positioning itself as a key player in the drive toward carbon neutrality, with some of the most competitive solar and wind resources, bolstered by a track record in attracting clean energy investments.
“Morocco is fully embracing its responsibilities in the global fight against climate change. However, these challenges require collective action, especially from the most industrialized nations,” Akhannouch asserted.
He pointed out the increasing toll of climate-related disasters, including the impacts on food security, healthcare infrastructure, and access to clean water.
The ongoing COP29 is taking place between November 11 and 22 with the participation of over 100 heads of state and delegates from nearly 200 countries who gathered to discuss accelerating climate action and address the impacts of extreme weather events.
One of the main topics of discussion at the conference is the urgent need for climate financing and establishing a new climate funding target for developing countries.
