A conference under the theme "from the Paris COP21 to the Marrakech COP22: regional skills at the heart of the global climate debate" was organised on Saturday in Oujda by the Mohammed I University and the Association of Engineers of the Mohamadia School.
Initiated in partnership with the UNESCO office in Rabat and the Oriental Region Development Agency, this meeting was an opportunity to highlight the regional and local dimension of the global debate around climate change. Speaking on this occasion, the president of the university, Mohamed Benkaddour, called on university, scientific, economic, political, and civil society institutions to design effective initiatives in order to contribute to the development of a comprehensive and integrated project, highlighting the Moroccan conception of climate change issues, in harmony with its needs and its development commitments.
He also expressed the commitment of the Mohammed I University to provide the necessary efforts for the development of scientific research in this field, and to provide material and logistical support to the various activities and programmes aimed at dealing with climate change.
For his part, the secretary general of the wilaya of the Oriental region, Abderrazak Kourji, noted that the holding of COP22 in Marrakech testifies to Morocco's strong and effective commitment to the protection of the environment, just as it constitutes a source of pride for all Moroccans, thus calling for the mobilisation of everyone to make this international event a success.
For her part, the president of the AIEM association, Monia Bousseta, noted that addressing the problem of climate change, which concerns public opinion, requires the contribution of the various actors of civil society, and the development of mechanisms allowing for the transfer of technologies, the strengthening of skills, and helping countries, particularly the poorest or developing ones, to prevent the risks of global warming.
Furthermore, Monia Boussetta welcomed the great interest given to Morocco in this field, due to its commitments to voluntarily adhere to international efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and its important role at the African level for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
For his part, the head of the UNESCO Multi-Country Office for the Maghreb, Hassan Belkinani, noted that civil society is aware of the importance of the contribution of local and regional actors in resolving issues related to the environment, and the need to concert efforts in order to face this scourge.
Highlighting the importance of this meeting, Hassan Belkinani concluded that there is a great mobilisation in the region at the level of institutional actors and civil society in order to give added value to the debate around climate change.
This meeting, held in the presence of experts, decision-makers, and public, private, and civil society actors in the region, focused on several themes related to global climate issues, notably "The implementation of the Paris Agreement and the preparation of the Marrakech conference", "The strategy of the Mohammed I University in sustainable development", and "The role of the private sector in promoting the green economy".
