New York, September 23 2016: Salaheddine Mezouar, COP22 President and Minister of Foreign Affairs held a press conference yesterday on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York to brief scores of international media on preparations and priorities for the upcoming climate change conference in Marrakech.
The COP22 President opened the press briefing by congratulating the countries that deposited their Paris Agreement ratification instruments to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday during a special event. Morocco joined 30 other countries in ratifying the Agreement, thus crossing the first conditional threshold of 55 countries joining. The Agreement however needs further ratifications equaling another approximately 8% to meet the second condition of 55% of global emission for the Agreement to enter into force. "We encourage all Parties to deposit their ratification instruments as soon as possible," emphasized Minister Mezouar.
During his remarks, Minister Mezouar laid out the priorities for the Marrakech conference: capacity building, $100 billion climate finance roadmap and technology. The COP22 President also underscored the importance of development on the African continent and the need for world leaders to focus on aiding the least developed countries and small island nations during the Marrakech climate change conference, November 7-18. "Marrakech needs to be about implementing the Paris Agreement for all, particularly vulnerable countries," said Minister Mezouar.
Following several questions from international journalists on the symbolic importance of holding COP22 on the African continent, Minister Mezouar reminded those in attendance that "Morocco never left Africa. We have an important role to play with our African brothers to reinforce South-South cooperation and implement a continental development plan including in the fight against climate change."
The COP22 President reminded those in attendance of the credibility of the Kingdom in hosting the Marrakech conference this November. "Morrocco has been committed to fighting climate change since the Rio summit. We have taken climate action seriously as is proof by the development of the world's largest concentrated solar power plant in Ouarzazate," said the Minister. Morocco has an ambitious goal of 52% of renewable power in its energy mix by 2030.
Minister Mezouar concluded the press conference by encouraging all to attend the conference in November and to take part in implementing the Paris Agreement and Global Climate Action Agenda. "We warmly welcome all delegations to Marrakech this November."
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