Global climate change presents numerous scenarios regarding the nature of the potential impacts on Morocco in the coming years, with indications of a new year of drought and the continuation of near-high temperatures until this November.

All eyes are on the COP30 summit in Brazil amid global concerns about the continued impact of climate change on fragile countries, especially in Africa, which need more funding.

Mustafa Benramel, president of the Ecological Lighthouses Association, said that “despite the absence of accurate forecasts for 2026, current scientific indicators point to a continued upward trend in temperatures and an increasing likelihood of drought in a number of regions, especially in the interior and semi-arid areas.”

However, Benramel added to Hespress that this does not mean that the country is doomed to an irreversible bleak scenario; climate change is characterized by its fluctuations, and some seasons may see a relative improvement in rainfall, especially if the El Niño phenomenon, which affects the regional climate, recedes.

Economic and agricultural repercussions

The head of the Ecological Lighthouses Association continued: “Agriculture is the first sector affected by these phenomena, as more than 70 percent of the cultivated areas in Morocco depend on rainfall, and drought leads to a decrease in crops and a decline in farmers’ income, especially in mountainous and rural areas. Climate change also threatens food security and increases the pressure on water resources used for irrigation.”

The aforementioned environmental and climate expert added: “The energy sector is also affected, as drought weakens hydroelectric power production, forcing Morocco to rely more on thermal energy sources. This comes at a time when the country is continuing its efforts to expand renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind, as part of its commitment to reducing emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.”

The same spokesperson noted that, in response to these challenges, the Kingdom has developed national strategies to adapt to climate change, including the National Water Strategy 2050 and the National Climate Plan, which aim to rationalize water use, support sustainable agriculture, and encourage scientific research in the green economy. The country is also relying on seawater desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation to safeguard water security for future generations.

Benramel concluded by saying: “It can be said that the year 2026 may witness the continuation of the effects of climate change on Morocco, whether in terms of high temperatures or drought; but this impact is not inevitable, as the faster the steps of adaptation and environmental transformation are taken, the less severe the risk and the greater the chances of resilience.”

For his part, Jalal Al-Maati, a researcher in spatial and environmental issues, stated that “combating this climate change internationally begins with reducing toxic gases and adapting to the effects of these climate changes.”

Al-Maati added, in a statement to Hespress, that the effects are mainly manifested through the continuous drought, which is exhausting the African continent, indicating that “Morocco in this case is required to adapt to these effects.”

The researcher, who specializes in spatial and environmental issues, pointed out that nothing precludes the possibility of Morocco entering “a new year of drought” as a result of international climate change, after the country entered a phase of water stress some time ago.

The source concluded by saying: “The delay in rainfall is the biggest proof of this impact, unless new data emerges, which is what Moroccan farmers hope for.”