Morocco leads the way for MENA, Africa in climate action – Emirati Senior Official

Morocco is leading the way for countries in the Middle East and Africa region in climate action, thanks to its leadership and pioneering commitment in the fight against climate change, said Razan Al Mubarak, COP28 High-Level Climate Champion.

“The countries of our region and Africa should be incredibly proud of Morocco’s inspiring vision, and take advantage of it as a way forward,” she said at a Side-event held on Sunday in Dubai by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, as part of COP28 activities.

Al Mubarak stressed that speaking at an event organized by Morocco has, for her, “many positive connotations”, recalling the role of the Climate Change High-Level Champion, which was made operational in Marrakech at COP22 in 2016.

“There can be no transition, whether in the field of energy or food, without non-state actors”, she emphasized, at this meeting organized at the Morocco Pavilion of COP28 in partnership with CGEM and UNIDO, under the theme “Tracking Africa’s Climate Action Journey: Successes and Opportunities”.

She underlined: “We also recognize, from a regional perspective, how much we welcome and appreciate the work of the Moroccan government and people, who have truly embraced the climate action agenda, not by talking, but by leading the way.”

Morocco is one of the few countries that, according to climate data, was already compliant with the Goal of limiting temperature to 1.5 degrees C°, when it submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2016, added the Emirati High-Level Climate Champion, who was speaking alongside Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali.

The meeting, which featured several high-profile officials and chairman of the Moroccan employers’ confederation, Chakib El Alj, showcased innovative, meaningful, and impactful climate solutions led by local authorities, the private sector and civil society to build more resilient communities for the good of Africa and the world.

Participants at this event, co-organized with the CGEM, and UNIDO, also focused on the situation in Africa since the Paris Climate Agreement, while taking a forward-looking, solutions-oriented approach to the global situation.

By holding this event, the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, chaired by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, is pursuing a vision of positive commitment to climate action, not only in Morocco, but also in Africa, the same vision that has been fostered by King Mohammed VI.