318 M. LUOMI
totalled approximately US$7.2 billion. 62 In addition to becoming an
electricity exporter, the government also sees great potential in serving
as a transit country for electricity trade between Africa and Europe
and seeks to pitch itself as a source of renewables-related expertise for
Africa. 63 This has led the government to take on active roles in promoting
interconnectivity between the two regions in various international fora.
In 2018, Morocco, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain signed the
‘Sustainable Electricity Trade Roadmap’, aimed at accelerating renewable
electricity trade between Morocco and the European energy market. 64
Morocco has also been actively pursuing financing from Europe—and
beyond—for its sustainable energy plans. Over the recent years, it has
secured tens of millions of Euros via the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility, for example. 65 In 2019, press sources reported that the
government was seeking US$30 billion in investments to its energy
sector through 2030, primarily renewables and liquefied natural gas
infrastructure, from investors in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 66
In 2016, as part of its role as the COP 22 host, Morocco launched
the Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change initiative, which
attracted participation by 33 African countries and has as its stated aims
promoting innovative solutions and advocating for adaptation financing
for the region’s priority needs. Also in 2016, Morocco drove the establishment of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, centred on
leveraging climate financing for this region, and has pledged to conduct
feasibility studies for the Commission’s investment plans and provide
capacity building support to its member countries. 67
The fact that Morocco’s foreign strategic energy interests are largely
oriented towards Europe and Africa has meant that its UNFCCC participation has similarly straddled between these two continents: it has
signed onto groups that have a strong European backing, such as the
High Ambition Coalition, while also participating in the African Group
and CVF, which unite many of its African neighbours around concerns
relating to vulnerability to climate impacts and calls for further climate
finance.
Consequently, while Morocco is the most progressive and active Arab
country in terms of climate action both domestically and in its foreign
policies, it has not invested in deeper regional cooperation with its Arab
peers—neither within or outside the negotiations.
totalled approximately US$7.2 billion. 62 In addition to becoming an
electricity exporter, the government also sees great potential in serving
as a transit country for electricity trade between Africa and Europe
and seeks to pitch itself as a source of renewables-related expertise for
Africa. 63 This has led the government to take on active roles in promoting
interconnectivity between the two regions in various international fora.
In 2018, Morocco, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain signed the
‘Sustainable Electricity Trade Roadmap’, aimed at accelerating renewable
electricity trade between Morocco and the European energy market. 64
Morocco has also been actively pursuing financing from Europe—and
beyond—for its sustainable energy plans. Over the recent years, it has
secured tens of millions of Euros via the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility, for example. 65 In 2019, press sources reported that the
government was seeking US$30 billion in investments to its energy
sector through 2030, primarily renewables and liquefied natural gas
infrastructure, from investors in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 66
In 2016, as part of its role as the COP 22 host, Morocco launched
the Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change initiative, which
attracted participation by 33 African countries and has as its stated aims
promoting innovative solutions and advocating for adaptation financing
for the region’s priority needs. Also in 2016, Morocco drove the establishment of the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region, centred on
leveraging climate financing for this region, and has pledged to conduct
feasibility studies for the Commission’s investment plans and provide
capacity building support to its member countries. 67
The fact that Morocco’s foreign strategic energy interests are largely
oriented towards Europe and Africa has meant that its UNFCCC participation has similarly straddled between these two continents: it has
signed onto groups that have a strong European backing, such as the
High Ambition Coalition, while also participating in the African Group
and CVF, which unite many of its African neighbours around concerns
relating to vulnerability to climate impacts and calls for further climate
finance.
Consequently, while Morocco is the most progressive and active Arab
country in terms of climate action both domestically and in its foreign
policies, it has not invested in deeper regional cooperation with its Arab
peers—neither within or outside the negotiations.