“In this spirit, the Kingdom of Morocco seized the opportunity of hosting the Cop22, in order to re-mobilize the international community against climate change,” said Bourita in a speech delivered on his behalf by Minister delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mohcine Jazouli, at the opening of the 3rd Morocco-Pacific Island States forum (26-28 Feb.).

The Minister recalled, in this context, the speech of HM the King before the Solemn High-Level Segment of the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 22) in which the Sovereign stated that “the convening of this conference in Africa urges us to give precedence to addressing the negative repercussions of climate change, which have been further aggravated in the countries of the South and the Island States, the latter now being threatened in their very existence”.
Morocco, the Minister added, also initiated the creation of innovative African mechanisms, such as the Climate Commission for African Pacific States, highlighting the “ambition to build bridges between this Commission and the Pacific Small Island Developing States”.

He recalled that Morocco had early on initiated a dynamic aimed at dealing proactively with the effects of climate change, through sectoral strategies, while pledging to carry the voice of African and Pacific Small Island Developing Countries, thus contributing to the realization of climate justice for these countries.
Referring to some of the challenges related to the issue of climate change, the Minister cited the deterioration of ecosystems, which is not limited to the impact on agriculture and key economic sectors, but goes as far as threatening the very existence of certain island States as a result of the rise in sea level.

“Our countries, which nourish equal importance to marine areas and show similarity in many economic sectors – such as fisheries, agriculture and tourism, suffer disproportionately and unfairly from the effects of global warming, to which we barely contribute,” the Minister regretted.
He also raised the challenge linked to “human development, which His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, considers essential to any productive and sustainable development policy”.

Morocco, he went on to say, has made great achievements in the field of human and social development.
“It has targeted the most vulnerable groups, through the provision of universal health coverage by 2030 and the generalization of primary education by 2027, while investing in the private sector and promoting the attraction of foreign direct investment by Morocco,” Bourita pointed out.

“These achievements were not achieved by chance, but as a result of major endeavors and ambitious sectoral strategies led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in the areas of human and sustainable development, and in the fields of agriculture and renewable energies, among others,” the Minister stressed.

He added that “the Kingdom of Morocco is renewing its willingness to share with the Pacific Island States, the experience and expertise accumulated in the fields of economic, human and sustainable development, in accordance with the aspirations of each country, and the priorities of international cooperation set by the Program of Samoa”.