The importance of leveraging digital technologies to find solutions for climate change took center stage on Friday at the second edition of GITEX Africa 2024, held in Marrakech from May 29th to 31st.
Held under the theme “Racing Against the Tide in the Quest for Net-Zero,” the panel discussion brought together Mbarka Bouaida, the President of Guelmim-Oued Noun Regional Council, and Larbi Touahir, the Executive Education Manager at UM6P.
The panel revolved around “the potential of digital technologies in enhancing Africa’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. It also explored how these technologies can provide equal opportunities for growth and development in comparison to the world’s largest polluters.”
In this regard, Bouaida emphasized the importance of using social media, digital tools, and communication platforms to effectively convey the message about climate change to the population.
She highlighted that “digital tools can be instrumental in raising public awareness at this initial level.”
The President elaborated further stating that the second level of digital transformation involves “using these technologies to collect accurate data.”
For Africans, this means “gathering information on weather conditions, understanding future actions, measuring impacts, and disseminating the right information to the public,” she explained.
As to the third level, the same speaker highlighted during the panel the horizontal expansion of digital transition, stating that “it is essential to develop technology in various sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, and education.”
Elaborating further on the topic, Bouaida noted that Morocco, hosting COP22 eight years ago, seized the opportunity to unveil ambitious initiatives like the AAA initiative for sustainable development.
This proactive stance, she explained, exemplified by other programs, be they vertical or horizontal such as the National Green Plan and the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, “have made Morocco less dependent on external energy sources and are expected to help the kingdom achieve net-zero emissions within the next decade.”
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