Morocco sets sights on climate funding at COP 29

COP 29 kicked off in Baku today, with Morocco taking part as a key member of both the African Group of Negotiators and the Arab States Group. 

The country is set to make securing funding for its climate projects a top priority as the summit progresses.

“Morocco’s already rolled out a lot of climate-related initiatives, especially in renewables, and it’s put a lot into infrastructure and technology,” says Mostapha Benramel, a climate specialist. 

“But the country needs more money to keep these projects going and take them to the next level,” the expert added.

While funding is a key issue for Morocco and Africa, it’s also a major hurdle in upcoming summit negotiations.

Morocco, along with other African nations, faces two big hurdles in the COP 29 talks. First, there’s the issue of funding for the Loss and Damage Fund. 

“African countries are hit hard by climate disasters like floods and droughts, and Morocco is no exception,” Benramel explains. “More funding is needed to help countries deal with these growing climate risks.”

The second challenge is the technological gap between developed and developing countries. “Morocco, like many African nations, doesn’t have access to the latest climate technology,” Benramel says.

“This puts them at a disadvantage, and it’s crucial for developed countries to step up and make sure developing nations have the tools they need to tackle climate change.”

Despite these challenges, Morocco stands to gain a lot from COP 29. “The real opportunity for Morocco is attracting funding for its renewable energy projects and other climate infrastructure,” the expert says. 

It’s worth noting that while Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, suffering annual GDP losses of 5-15%.

African delegates, like many other developing countries, often find it difficult to influence the decisions made at COP as the Global North continues to postpone fulfilling its obligations to the Global South

The diverse biomes, economies, and languages across Africa can also hinder unified climate action as countries with conflicting interests and priorities struggle to find common ground.