Morocco: EU Members Support Morocco’s Presidency of COP22 Summit

European Union members topped by EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini Monday hailed Morocco’s leadership to chair the COP22 Summit to take place in in Marrakech November this year.

The EU members also expressed their satisfaction for the choice of Morocco as the next host of the global event and indicated that the choice of Morocco was the sheer translation of Morocco’s commitment to fight climate change.

The 28-member bloc pointed out that selecting Morocco to host the world event represents recognition by the international community of Morocco’s choice for renewable energy and environmental-friendly economy.

Federica Mogherini congratulated Morocco for choosing to host the summit and called on the EU members to ensure that the COP22 yields similar fruits as COP21 hosted by Paris and ensuring that the recommendations to be formulated are implemented.

Morocco has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32% by 2030. In its “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” (INDC) to address climate change to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC,) the country has unveiled an ambitious plan to increase the share of renewable electricity capacity to 42 pc in 2020 and to 52 pc by 2030.

A 10-member steering committee chaired by Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar has been already established to chair the 11-day global event which will take place November 7 through 18 this year.

Morocco, is the first Maghreb country to have submitted its contribution to lowering emissions, with the goal of moving to 42 per cent use of renewable energy by 2020.