Morocco is gearing up for active participation in the COP30 climate conference set to take place in Brazil, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leila Benali said Monday before Parliament. She stressed that the Kingdom continues to translate its climate ambitions into «concrete achievements», in line with King Mohammed VI's vision to make multilateral climate diplomacy a cornerstone of Morocco's environmental policy. Benali said Morocco's delegation will highlight the country's integrated model for sustainable development, which mobilizes additional financing for regions and local communities, reinforcing Morocco's leadership at both regional and global levels. Since the Paris Agreement, the country has secured around $500 million (4.6 billion dirhams) in climate funding from mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and bilateral partnerships with Germany, the EU, and UN agencies, supporting projects in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and climate adaptation in fragile ecosystems like coasts, oases, and forests. Several regions have benefited directly from these funds, including Fez–Meknes (304 million dirhams), Drâa–Tafilalet (276 million dirhams), and Marrakech–Safi (120 million dirhams). Benali described these projects as «models of local climate action». She also highlighted Morocco's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (CDN 3.0), which introduces a participatory approach that integrates economic and social impact assessments, calling it a «pioneering Moroccan innovation in climate planning». The minister noted that Morocco has signed bilateral agreements under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement with Switzerland, Singapore, Norway, and South Korea, including a project with Switzerland expected to bring 6 billion dirhams in funding and create 6,000 jobs. Benali also announced a new approach for COP30, expanding national participation through a partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, offering 50 scholarships to PhD students specializing in environment and climate. The Moroccan negotiating team will consist of fewer than ten young experts, 80% of whom are under 35. «Morocco doesn't attend international conferences for symbolic presence», Benali said. «It participates to propose solutions and realistic alternatives, embodying King Mohammed VI's vision of making Morocco a global model in climate action and sustainable energy transition».
