Amidst the ongoing clear weather and lack of rainfalls in the Kingdom in November, concerns have arisen about a new dry year. Farmers, officials, and experts are sounding the alarm and calling on the government to take immediate action to address the country’s climate and water problems.
In a time of water scarcity, the prospect of another dry year is concerning for both the country and its people. Some are urging Morocco’s government to declare a climate emergency.
“The climate emergency is not directly related to drought, but rather directly related to the climatic phenomena that Morocco is experiencing,” explained Mohammed Benaabbou, an environmental expert, in a statement to Hespress AR.
He emphasized that discussions about climate change and its impact on Morocco should encompass the topics of drought, water stress, and water scarcity. Banaabbou further stressed the need to address the thousands of hectares lost each year because of forest fires.
He noted, “the heatwave our country is experiencing is no longer limited to the summer season only.”
The environmental expert also mentioned that April and October of this year were the hottest months ever recorded in decades, stressing that climate changes in the world are occurring rapidly in several regions.
Benaabbou emphasized that declaring a climate emergency does not mean that Morocco is failing to combat the phenomenon.
“Declaring a climate emergency would facilitate Morocco’s access to various green funding sources, especially with the upcoming climate summit that will be held in two days,” continued the expert.
He added that “we are looking for easy and smooth access to these fundings and rather than justifications.”
Abderrahim Handouf, an expert in the water sector, told Hespress AR that Morocco is dealing with a structural water problem that is not limited to a particular year or stage.
“Even if the rainfall remains the same as in previous years, the per capita annual water share in Morocco is expected to decrease due to limited water resources,” explained Handouf.
He added that Morocco’s per capita share is 2000 cubic meters per year, which is notably lower than countries such as Brazil, where it is 12,000 cubic meters.
The water sector expert disagrees with declaring a state of emergency as the water situation is not a temporary issue but rather a serious and structural issue that requires a serious and comprehensive approach from the government.
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