COP27: Princess Lalla Hasnaa voices Morocco’s firm support to Congo Basin resilience to climate change
Moroccan Princess Lalla Hasnaa, Goodwill Ambassador of the Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC) & the Blue Congo Basin Fund, has reaffirmed, in Sharm El Sheikh, Morocco’s strong commitment to support the three African Climate Commissions launched by African leaders during COP22 held in Marrakesh.
“Morocco, as a Founding Partner Country and, above all, as a staunch African advocate for the region, is determined to contribute to the achievement of the objectives set at the First Brazzaville Summit,” said the Princess in remarks she made Wednesday at the high-level meeting she chaired at COP27 on financing mitigation & adaptation actions to address climate change in Congo Bassin.
The Princess also voiced the strong commitment of Morocco, at the highest level, to back the African climate change commissions to help the African Island States, the Congo Basin and the Sahel countries mitigate the negative impacts of global warming.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa thanked the participants in this high-level meeting organized by the Republic of Congo, which chairs the Congo Basin Climate Commission, and Morocco, Founding Partner of the three African Climate Commissions, saying that their presence at this event shows their commitment to contribute to the success of this landmark regional climate project.
Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues its technical assistance to support the presidency of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, added the Princess, noting that Morocco is also propping up the development of the Congo Basin Blue Fund and is deploying its expertise in the fight against climate change through the Climate Change Competence Centre (4C Morocco).
The Congo basin is the 2nd world’s largest carbon reserves, said Princess Lalla Hasnaa, affirming that its protection represents a major global challenge and requires the participation all stakeholders.
She stressed the need to provide this region with the necessary financial and technical support to help build an economic model combining sustainability and innovation and enable the local populations become more resilient to climate change.
For their part, participants in the meeting have commended the steadfast commitment of King Mohammed VI for a strong Africa capable of addressing the climate change challenges.
They also paid tribute to Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso and hailed his efforts to advance the Congo Basin Climate Commission and its financing instrument, the Blue Congo Basin Fund.
The Congo Basin Climate Commission (CBCC), set up in 2018, includes 16 member African countries, namely Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and one associate member, Morocco.
On the sidelines of her participation in COP27, Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who is president of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, met on Wednesday with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell.
On Tuesday, she met with Congo’s Environment Minister & coordinator of the Congo Basin Climate Commission, Ms. Arlette Soudan-Nonault,
