On the sidelines of COP 29 in Baku, Morocco and International Energy Agency (IEA) concluded Friday an action program for the period 2024-2026, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two parties in the area of energy transition.
Inked during a bilateral meeting at the Morocco Pavilion between Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali and IEA's Executive Director Fatih Birol, the program seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two parties in statistics and energy data management.
The program, which marks a new stage in the partnership between Morocco and IEA, also aims to reinforce cooperation in areas such as electricity and gas markets regulation, support for renewable energy and hydrogen, regional energy transitions, dialogue on energy security, climate resilience, carbon market integration, as well as technical and institutional support.
According to Morocco's ministry, this renewed partnership reflects The Kingdom's commitment to promoting sustainable energy policies and enhancing international cooperation in combating climate change. A regional pioneer in the development of clean energy technologies, Morocco is implementing an "ambitious" policy with a view to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and to increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix.
In a press statement following the signing, Birol praised Morocco's energy-related efforts, especially in the sector of renewable energies, stating that the Kingdom, a "very important country in North Africa", is a "source of inspiration" for countries of the region and beyond.
"I am very delighted that Morocco is part of the IEA family. Today we have signed this action program to foster our cooperation in various aspects of the energy sector," he stated.
Morocco, an IEA associate member since 2016, pursues a of low-carbon economy transition. The collaboration initiated in 2007 between the Kingdom and the IEA has already resulted in 'significant' progress in the areas of energy policy, statistics, and research and development.
The new work program will support the implementation of Morocco's national energy strategy by providing technical assistance on best practices and technologies to achieve the Kingdom's energy goals.
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (November 11-22) primarily focuses on climate financing, in light of the need to enable all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change, particularly for vulnerable communities.
