Morocco Ranks in Top 10 of 2015 Climate Change Performance Index

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ (MACP) -- The 2015 Climate Performance Index named Morocco "one of the global forerunners in renewable energy policy making," ranking the country among the top 10 making the most progress in addressing climate change and number one among developing countries. In conjunction with the European Climate Action Network, German Watch—an independent development and environmental organization dedicated to sustainable global development—annually evaluates and compares the climate-protection performance of the 58 countries that are responsible for more than 90 percent of global CO₂ emissions. Morocco's ranking of 9^th overall in this latest report represents a 6 point improvement over last year.

The index was released to coincide with the opening of the Lima Climate Change Conference, which ended last week. In Lima for the conference, US Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized that while "no one country can reverse the degradation of our climate," "science has given us the tools to deal with the broad array of causes and we must find a way to build the political will to start taking the steps today that will cut our emissions and save our planet tomorrow."

The Climate Performance Index report commended Morocco for continuing its "upward trend," stating, "Especially noteworthy is that the kingdom has not only adopted ambitious renewable energy targets, but also supported its commitment with an increasing number of solar and wind projects as means to secure climate-compatible development." Morocco's solar plan, which includes the construction of large projects in five locations, aims to provide one fifth of the country's annual electricity by 2020, and the Ouarzazate Solar Power Complex is the world's largest concentrated solar power plant. Combined with Morocco's wind energy program, the country expects to generate 42 percent of domestic energy needs from renewable sources by 2020.

"For almost two decades, under King Mohammed VI's guidance, Morocco has been committed to planning and implementing significant sustainable energy programs," said former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel. "The results of the Climate Performance Index make this clear, and are yet another illustration of Morocco's leadership role in the region."

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/morocco-ranks-in-top-10-of-2015-climate-change-performance-index-300009806.html

SOURCE Moroccan American Center for Policy

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http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org

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