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Morocco - Climate

Located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, at the gates of Europe and northern Africa, Morocco has always been a crossroads of civilizations. Due to its geographical position, Morocco is subject to several influences (oceanic, continental, desert, etc…) which makes its climate very diverse. It is marked by a temperate climate in the coastal regions which contrasts with the dry Saharan climate in the southern and eastern regions of the Kingdom and the continental climate in the interior of the country. The summer is generally hot on the coasts and in the mountainous regions, very hot and dry in the south and east. The winter is cold and damp in most Moroccan landforms with mild temperatures in the South.

In recent decades, Morocco has experienced economic and social development within the context of climate change. Consequently, the pressure on natural resources has increased, affecting the resilience of forest ecosystems and the agriculture sector, particularly because of water scarcity. Water availability per capita was over three times higher in 1960 than it is today. Morocco is very vulnerable to climate change, due to its geographical location, and is prone to water scarcity, declining agricultural production, desertification, floods and rising sea levels. For Morocco, adaptation to climate change is the cornerstone of any program or policy on sustainable development.

Morocco implements a sectoral approach, adapted to its varied natural circumstances: mountain regions, the coast, oases, agricultural areas and urban areas. The ultimate objectives of Morocco in addressing climate change, which must also resonate with the international community, are:

• The protection of populations, through a risk-prevention management approach, particularly in the most vulnerable areas (coastal zones, mountainous areas, regions with a high propensity for desertification, and oases). This approach relies on an observation and research system to better understand current and future climate risks.
• The protection of natural heritage, biodiversity, forestry and fishery resources, through an ecosystem-based adaptation approach. Morocco commits to restoring ecosystems and strengthening their resilience, to combat soil erosion and prevent flooding.
• The protection of climate-sensitive production systems, such as agriculture and tourism, as well as high-risk infrastructures. Water resources being the most constraining factor to sustainable development in Morocco, the Kingdom has recently developed a National Water Strategy. The strategy aims to improve integrated and appropriate water resource management and preservation methods, protection against pollution, training, scientific research and awareness around these themes.
• The protection of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom through education and awareness actions, and efforts to preserve ancestral good practices in highly vulnerable sectors, such as water and agriculture.

Morocco is among the Mediterranean and African regions that have been exposed to the impacts of climate change for several decades now. In Morocco, the impacts of climate change take the form of a reduction in precipitation and snow cover, and a general rise in temperatures across the country.

Historically, Morocco went through 20 years of drought in the past 70 years, which means almost one third of that period. Studies show that in the future, Morocco will become more arid due to a decrease in precipitation, a concurrent temperature increase, and extreme weather events occurring with higher frequency. Projections show that thecountry’s decrease in precipitation will be to the order of 20 % on a 2050-time horizon, with a greater impact in semi-arid plains. Morocco’s Third Communication to the UNFCCC, submitted in 2016, offers an exhaustive status report of Morocco’s vulnerability to climate change, and of the adaptation actions underway.

Morocco is very vulnerable to climate change, due to its geographical location, and is prone to water scarcity, declining agricultural production, desertification, flooding and rising sea levels. Thanks to the kingdom’s great efforts with regards to human development, poverty in all forms has largely been eradicated in urban centers and has been greatly reduced in rural areas due to an increase in people’s living standards and efforts to reduce social disparities. However, these efforts are at risk of being counteracted by climate change’s negative impacts on the domestic economy and communities, including in rural areas. Thus, for Morocco, adaptation to climate change is the cornerstone of any program or policy on sustainable development. Some economic sectors or ecosystems are more sensitive than others to climate change, namely water, agriculture, fisheries, shorelines, forestry and health. For other sectors and ecosystems, a shortcoming of readily available data means that it is not currently available to provide a detailed description of their sensitivities.

The agricultural sector is a central part of the Moroccan economy, having contributed more than 14 % to national accounts and employed over 39 % of the country’s laborforce between 2008 and 2013. A large part of lands used for agriculture are not irrigated, making the sector vulnerable to climate change. Several years of droughts spanning over the last decades have affected the agricultural sector’s main types of crops — and thus the economy — and community living standards, including in rural areas.

Morocco is world-class destination, owing to the riches of its heritage, its diverse landscape and its proximity to Europe, as well as its accommodation, transport and communications facilities. Tourism represents 12 % of Morocco’s GDP, and is a substantial contributor to wealth creation and poverty reduction. In 2015, approximately USD 6 billion in revenues were generated from non-residents who visited Morocco, covering for 32 % of the country’s trade balance deficit.