Rabat – Morocco has solidified its standing as a regional leader in climate action by ranking 8th in the 2025 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), presented on wednesday at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The annual ranking evaluates 63 countries and the European Union on their climate performance, based on four key criteria: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy.
While no country achieved a “very high” rating, leaving the top three positions vacant, Morocco’s performance demonstrates its significant progress toward carbon neutrality.
The country, which rose one spot compared to its 2024 ranking, is now ranked as the leading African and Arab nation in the CCPI, surpassing nations like Germany (16th), Norway (9th), and Sweden (11th).
The results reflect Morocco’s leadership in the global push for sustainable development, with its ambitious goals in renewable energy and GHG emissions reduction.
Advancing renewable energy and climate policy
The CCPI report highlights Morocco’s commitment to achieving 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, an ambitious target that reflects the nation’s ongoing efforts in solar and wind energy development
As the CCPI experts note, Morocco’s climate policies are “a regional leader in sustainable development and GHG reduction,” with a particular emphasis on the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.
This is reflected in the country’s rapid strides in developing solar and wind power projects, which have positioned Morocco as a frontrunner in clean energy in the region.
Morocco’s significant investments in renewable energy, including the world-renowned Noor Solar Complex, have positioned the nation as a key player in the global renewable energy transition.
The report emphasizes that “the priority given by Morocco to sustainable development is visible in the country’s efforts to meet renewable energy targets,” while acknowledging that the country is on track to exceed its renewable energy goals.
However, the report also highlights the challenges Morocco faces as it continues to diversify its energy sources. Despite the impressive growth in renewables, the country remains dependent on fossil fuels, including plans for local gas extraction, which could hinder further progress toward carbon neutrality.
According to the CCPI experts, “there are barriers to further expanding renewables, such as high initial costs for renewable energy technology and dependence on external funding.” These challenges, combined with changing regulatory frameworks, have slowed the pace of private investment in renewables.
Addressing water stress and agricultural sustainability
Another area of concern identified in the CCPI report is Morocco’s vulnerability to water stress, particularly in the agricultural sector. Water scarcity is increasingly influencing national policies, as climate change poses a significant threat to the country’s food security.
The report suggests that Morocco should adopt “drip irrigation systems and gradually introduce sustainable seed practices” to help adapt its agriculture to the changing climate.
It also emphasizes the need to address “barriers to incentivizing renewable energy generation at the local business level and by private individuals,” which are crucial for the success of Morocco’s renewable energy strategy.
While community involvement and educational initiatives are integral to Morocco’s policy frameworks, the report argues, there remains a gap in the implementation of laws and monitoring systems.
As experts suggest, strengthening local capacities and fostering a greater commitment to sustainable practices at the grassroots level will be essential for further reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The CCPI experts offer several recommendations for Morocco to accelerate its climate progress. One of the report’s key suggestions is to redirect subsidies from fossil fuels toward supporting renewable energy and energy efficiency.
In particular, the report highlights the importance of introducing carbon pricing mechanisms, which would internalize the environmental costs of fossil fuel consumption.
“Carbon pricing mechanisms, which are already discussed,” the report notes, “should be introduced to internalize fossil fuels’ environmental costs.”
The need to strengthen technical and institutional capacities at all levels is another important recommendation.
These capacities are crucial for implementing Morocco’s climate policies effectively, and the report stresses that “technical and institutional capacities need to be strengthened at all levels to implement climate policies.”
The CCPI experts conclude that while Morocco’s ranking remains impressive, “greater efforts and actions by governments are needed to set the world on track to keep global warming well below a 2°C increase,” and even better, below 1.5°C.
