2024-04-26 09:16:14
Due to their knowledge of the specificities of their territory, local authorities are on the front line to act in the face of the consequences of climate change and put in place adaptation measures, noted the speakers during this meeting organized at the Morocco Pavilion by the Management general of local authorities.
Local authorities indeed have the necessary prerogatives to act on several aspects, in particular protection against floods or the installation of warning and forecasting systems for natural disasters, they observed, noting however that many challenges persist. to fully mobilize the action potential of subnational actors in favor of adaptation.
In addition, the National Natural Disaster Risk Management Strategy, which advocates reducing vulnerability and strengthening the resilience of populations and territories against disasters to guarantee sustainable development, was highlighted on this occasion.
The strategy is structured around three guiding principles, namely improving knowledge and assessment of risks, promoting risk prevention to strengthen resilience and improving preparedness for natural disasters for rapid recovery and effective reconstruction, they stressed.
This is a concerted, inclusive and participatory strategy, advocating cultural practice, shared responsibility and the pooling and optimization of the resources involved, they noted, noting that the strategy, based on the concept of sustainable development , intends to make the consideration of risks a key factor in the economic and social development of the Kingdom.
The latest IPCC report on climate change, published in 2022, considers Morocco a “climate hotspot” where water scarcity, desertification and shoreline erosion are growing problems.
Adaptation to climate change thus remains an absolute priority in the Kingdom’s sustainable development planning, which attempts to transform the crisis into an opportunity through the targeted integration of adaptation measures.
The cost of implementing these necessary adaptation measures in the most affected sectors in Morocco is estimated at nearly USD 40 billion, according to the Nationally Determined Contribution (CDN-2021).
In this regard, the director of the World Bank for the MENA region, Mesky Brhane, welcomed the great efforts made by Morocco to combat the effects of climate change, and especially the management of the risks of natural disasters.
“We give Morocco as an example in this area for the entire MENA region and the entire African continent, particularly the role of the National Natural Disaster Fund, which has notably made it possible to prevent a population of around 500,000 people from the risk of flooding. ”, she said in a statement to MAP.
The World Bank supports Morocco through a common natural disaster risk management program, she said, adding that the institution ensures in its financing to allocate 30 to 40% of investments for disaster risk management. natural disasters
For his part, the president of the Dakhla Oued Eddahab region, Yenja El Khattat, indicated that local authorities mobilize all their resources for the management of natural disasters, by putting in place strategic plans for this purpose, depending on the means of each region or municipality.
According to him, local authorities work according to a participatory approach for effective management of disasters and crises, in accordance with the High Guidelines of HM King Mohammed VI.
He also insisted that disaster management must be carried out in an approach favoring complementarity, convergence and coherence of preventive and emergency measures.
This side-event, organized as part of the cooperation between the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Municipal Councils (AMPCC) and the Organization of Arab Cities (OVA), aims to present the national framework for natural risk management in Morocco, as well as support tools for local authorities with a view to getting involved in the implementation of climate change adaptation projects.
Feedback from local authorities and technical and financial partners made it possible to fuel the discussion on the action potential of subnational actors in order to increase the resilience of territories and participate in adaptation efforts, in the presence of presidents and representatives of the Regions of the Kingdoms.
Morocco is present in force at the work of COP28 with more than 700 people and around thirty institutions.
2024-04-26 09:16:14