Morocco Fully Committed to International Efforts on Environment, Sustainable Development – Minister

Rabat – Morocco has been committed early and fully in international efforts on the environment and sustainable development, placing environmental protection among the national priorities and adhering to most multilateral agreements on the environment and their implementation at the national level, said Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali.

In a message on the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5), Benali emphasized the strengthening of sustainable development governance and the tangible progress that has been made in terms of integrating sustainability into sectoral policies, through the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, aiming to achieve a transition to an inclusive green economy by 2030.

In addition, programs have been developed in the field of energy transition, forest protection, agriculture, green economy and clean production, and have been implemented in accordance with the guidelines of the new development model, said the Minister, noting that these efforts have recently been consolidated by the election of Morocco to the presidency of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi.

In addition, Benali announced that on the occasion of the celebration of World Environment Day, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development is organizing a series of activities at the central and territorial levels to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and promoting sustainability, adding that an awareness campaign will also be launched on energy savings and environmentally friendly behavior to reduce the Kingdom’s energy bill and contribute to the protection of its environment.

The world celebrates this International Day on June 5 of each year with the aim of promoting awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and renewing the commitment to address environmental challenges by all stakeholders namely the concerned ministerial departments, the private sector as well as citizens, continued  Benali, noting that this year’s slogan “We have only one earth” is very significant, and was chosen by the international community to celebrate this Day.

Recent scientific reports have shown that environmental systems have been deteriorating globally for years due to unsustainable human activities, which has contributed to the decline of biodiversity, exacerbation of pollution and the effects of climate change, thus threatening the environmental foundations of our societies, and thus our economic and social well-being, the Minister noted.

She further argued that given the special circumstances we live today and its social, health and economic repercussions, including disruptions in the production chains and marketing of natural resources, “immediate action must be taken to reconcile with the environment, reform ecosystems, reconsider consumption patterns for a just transition to sustainable development.”

“This day is therefore an opportunity to reconsider, as citizens, our behavior and our practices towards ecosystems by stopping wasting resources in light of the challenges mentioned, and making our consumption and production patterns more sustainable, “concluded Ms. Benali, noting that it is also an invitation to assume its share of responsibility, to contribute to this vital site to achieve sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.