Morocco’s government approved a bill that would create an autonomous national weather and climate agency, make it the country’s sole official source of forecasts and warnings, and introduce penalties to protect meteorological data and observation systems.
Bill 05.26 would transform the General Directorate of Meteorology from an administrative department under the Equipment and Water Ministry into a financially autonomous public institution called the Moroccan Weather and Climate Agency.
The government said the change would give the service greater flexibility, improve the quality of weather and climate information and strengthen its ability to manage weather-related risks.
The proposed agency would have exclusive authority to issue public weather forecasts and warnings. It would also operate an integrated national system for collecting, processing, storing and distributing meteorological and climate data.
Its responsibilities would include supporting public climate and weather programs, exchanging data internationally, providing information for disaster management and national defence, and delivering meteorological services for aviation and maritime navigation.
The agency would also be able to provide data, studies and technical support to government departments, public institutions and private entities under contractual arrangements.
The bill follows findings by Morocco’s Court of Auditors and General Finance Inspectorate, which identified limited funding, difficulty developing new services and barriers preventing the current directorate from directly accessing international financial contributions.
The proposed law also introduces penalties intended to protect weather stations and meteorological information, though the government has not yet published the full text detailing the offences and sanctions.
Operators of existing observation stations would receive a one-year transition period to declare their facilities to the new agency.
Staff currently employed by the General Directorate of Meteorology would be transferred to the agency while retaining their existing rights and benefits.
The agency would also take over state contracts and obligations linked to meteorological studies, equipment, services and infrastructure.
The government has not yet clarified how the agency’s exclusive role will affect private forecasting services, media outlets, universities or businesses that collect and publish weather information.
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