At COP28, Moroccan participation carries a strong message for integrated management of pollutants (minister)
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 11:15 Dubai – Moroccan participation in COP28 in Dubai with a very high-level delegation, chaired by HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa, carries a strong message for a new generation of multilateralism, capable of track different types of pollutants in an integrated manner, said the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali.
The speech of His Majesty King Mohammed VI addressed to the World Summit on Climate Action, organized within the framework of COP28, was an opportunity to highlight the issues raised by the Moroccan presidency of the United Nations Assembly for Environment, by emphasizing the credibility of multilateralism and multilateral financing, particularly those linked to climate projects, Ms. Benali said in a statement to the press on Saturday.
This is a very important point that the Sovereign underlined, given the various challenges that arise at the start of the 21st century, led by the climate crisis, she added.
Morocco insists on this integration between the different COPs and between the different instances of multilateralism, with a view to tracking in an integrated manner the different types of pollutant emissions which have a direct impact on economic and social development, noted the minister, noting that “it is therefore a very strong message that Morocco carries in all instances”.
The Morocco Pavilion at COP28, she continued, is an adequate space that hosts many important events, negotiations and signings of conventions, with the participation of the Moroccan delegation which also includes ministers and partners from the sector. private sector interested in climate, energy transition and sustainable development, as well as civil society actors.
“Moroccan participation is an opportunity to share our experiences in energy transition and sustainable development,” she said, referring to the projects already carried out and of which Morocco is “proud” and those currently being prepared.
According to the minister, foreign delegations have shown particular interest in Morocco’s projects in this area, particularly those linked to low-carbon industry, desalination of seawater with renewable energies and access to liquefied natural gas market for the first time in Morocco.
“Of course, we also have an offer of green hydrogen, a project which will allow us to establish the energy transition, but also regional integration with the African and European continents,” underlined Ms. Benali.
Regarding the negotiations, the minister stressed that Morocco insists on the importance of climate financing.
“We take this opportunity to congratulate the United Arab Emirates, this brother and friend country, which has brought forward several climate issues, was able to obtain very good results during these first days of COP28, in particular with the operationalization of the Fund for Losses and damages and the mobilization of hundreds of millions of dollars already,” she said.
Returning to the National Sustainable Development Strategy, Ms. Benali welcomed a “very inclusive” plan which carries the spirit of the new development model, by putting humans and citizens at the heart of public policies.
Recalling the Kingdom’s pioneering commitment to international climate action, with the hosting of two COPs (2001 and 2016 in Marrakech), she highlighted the Moroccan presidency of the United Nations Environment Assembly, a first for an African country, noting that Morocco will pass the torch in February to Kenya.
