Nizar Baraka Calls for Transforming Climate Risks into Sustainable Development Opportunities at ClimAfrica 2025 Forum in Skhirat
During the opening of the ClimAfrica 2025 Forum, held on September 30 and October 1 at the Conference Palace in Skhirat, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, urged for enhanced African cooperation, technological innovation, and youth mobilization to turn climate risks into opportunities for resilience and development.
In his opening speech, Baraka emphasized that the forum, organized under the theme “From Risks to Resilience: Meteorology and Innovation in Service of Early Warning Systems in Africa,” serves as a unique continental platform to connect science with infrastructure, finance, and decision-making. He added that “the forum arose from the conviction that Africa must speak with one voice and act collectively to address the impacts of climate change,” stressing that the goal is to transition from vulnerability to resilience and from resilience to competitiveness.
The minister highlighted the scale of the climate crisis, reminding attendees that 2024 was the hottest year recorded globally, with an increase of 1.55 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organization. He noted that sea levels reached a new record high, while natural disasters such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods have doubled.
In Morocco, the same year was characterized by the severest drought in six decades and record temperatures in several cities, alongside exceptional rainfall in the southeastern region. Baraka stated: “These facts compel us to develop coordinated, comprehensive, and sustained responses.”
In this context, the minister praised the United Nations initiative “Early Warning for All,” which focuses on four pillars: risk knowledge, monitoring and analysis, alert dissemination, and readiness to respond. He insisted that no country can independently possess all the necessary technical, human, and financial capacities, making international cooperation and knowledge sharing imperative. He also underscored the crucial role of the World Meteorological Organization in supporting meteorological services in Africa, which continue to experience significant disparities in resources and funding.
Baraka asserted that Morocco, through the National Meteorological Directorate, has solidified its position as a reference regional player by developing multi-hazard early warning systems, leveraging advanced technologies such as supercomputers, satellites, radars, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on innovation to support public policies in addressing risks.
He also emphasized the importance of involving youth in solutions, stating, “Young people are the most affected by the climate crisis, but they must be at the heart of the solutions.” He pointed out the launch of the ClimAfrica Challenge during the forum to encourage digital and innovative solutions in the climate sector.
The minister believed that the development of climate innovation cannot be achieved without strong investments and partnerships between the public and private sectors. He highlighted the need to strengthen local and regional capacities so that African actors can efficiently interpret and utilize climate data.
He concluded with a call to enhance cooperation, particularly through South-South partnerships, to exchange experiences, harmonize efforts, and build joint initiatives for resilience. He stated, “Morocco remains committed to making technological innovation, youth training, and regional cooperation the cornerstones for Africa’s ability to transform climate risks into opportunities for sustainable development.”
