In a recent report by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), an international research group dedicated to monitoring countries' efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, Morocco emerges as a nation poised for a sustainable energy transformation. While coal remains a prevalent energy source in the country, the report underscores Morocco's potential to lead in renewable energy development.
Morocco's proactive measures to combat climate change are commendable. Notably, the kingdom has pledged to cease the construction of new coal-fired power plants, a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, Morocco has embarked on the decarbonization of key sectors within its economy, including phosphates and agriculture. The implementation of the National Energy Efficiency Strategy, which aims for substantial consumption reductions of up to 24% in sectors like transportation, is yet another noteworthy initiative.
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Morocco's commitment to renewable energies stands out as a central strategy in the nation's efforts to curb carbon emissions. With a target of achieving 52% renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, Morocco is taking ambitious steps towards a greener energy mix.
As of the current assessment, renewables contribute approximately one-fifth of Morocco's electricity generation, a figure projected to surge to around 90% by 2030. However, it is worth noting that Morocco did not meet its 2020 capacity target, as outlined in the CAT report. The report emphasizes that, despite the country's efforts, these capacity targets are insufficient to align with the temperature threshold of 1.5°C set to combat global warming.
To align with the 1.5°C temperature increase cap, Morocco should aim to reduce coal-fired electricity production to just one-tenth of the current levels by 2030 and completely eliminate it by 2040. Achieving this ambitious goal will require substantial support from the international community.
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The report also underscores that Morocco currently generates a significant portion of its electricity from fossil gas. The national objective is to gradually phase out this dependence, with plans to eliminate most of it by 2030 and entirely transition away from fossil gas by 2035.
The CAT study extends its analysis to several countries, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among others. The report concludes that, collectively, no country is currently on a trajectory to limit global warming to the 1.5°C threshold, underscoring the urgency of coordinated international efforts to combat climate change.
