Deputy Speaker of the House of Councillors Abdelkader Salama highlighted Morocco's experience in the fight against climate change and renewable energies in Panama City.
Speaking at a forum held on June 4-5 in Panama by the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) on “Climate change and just transition”, Salama showcased Morocco as a model for countries of the South in the fight against climate change, recalling the Kingdom's adoption of a national strategy aimed at preserving natural resources and the transition to renewable and clean energies, a press release from the Upper House states.
He emphasized that, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Kingdom has pursued an effective policy of transition to renewable energies, launching pioneering projects such as the Noor solar power plant in Ouarzazate, one of the largest worldwide, with the aim of generating more than 52% of electricity from clean sources by 2030.
He also cited the launch of a national water policy to ensure water security in the face of drought, and the adoption of a national sustainable development strategy based on the green economy and the preservation of biodiversity, noting in this respect that the climate dimension has been included in educational programs to better inform new generations on environmental challenges.
Salama further spoke of Morocco as an effective and reliable partner, having hosted the COP22 conference in 2016 in Marrakech and organized the Conference on Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA). He also mentioned the Kingdom's membership at the International Solar Alliance, as well as a key player in regional initiatives such as the 5+5 initiative in the Western Mediterranean and the Union for the Mediterranean.
The forum culminated in the creation of the “Alliance for Climate Action and Just Transition,” as well as the Upper House becoming a founding member of this inter-parliamentary platform aimed at promoting exchange, consultation and promotion of initiatives likely to contribute to more effective climate action, the press release adds.