Casablanca's Strategic Move Towards Climate Resilience
Casablanca, Morocco's bustling metropolis, has officially embarked on the development of its Climate Plan, known as the Plan Climat Casablanca (PCC), with significant backing from the World Bank. This initiative is an integral part of the city’s communal action plan for the years 2023 to 2028. The PCC is designed to serve as a comprehensive roadmap that addresses key environmental transition areas such as mobility, energy, water management, waste management, urban planning, infrastructure, and biodiversity. The objective is to fortify the city’s resilience against climate change while strategically guiding its future investments and initiatives.
The official launch of this important process took place on July 3, gathering various stakeholders including institutional and technical actors under the leadership of Nabila Rmili, the president of the Casablanca Municipal Council, alongside representatives from the World Bank. This collaborative effort aims to establish a structured approach to combat climate change and its impacts on urban life in Casablanca.
Framework for Public Action and International Expertise
The PCC is intended to enable the city to organize its responses to the challenges posed by climate change effectively. It aims to enhance the area’s resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prioritize essential investments, and sustainably improve the living conditions for its residents. By integrating multiple strategic sectors within a unified vision, the plan seeks to avoid fragmented approaches and instead create a cohesive climate action framework. The PCC aligns with the broader communal action plan for 2023-2028, reflecting the city's dedication to climate transition, sustainable development, and territorial resilience.
In developing this plan, Casablanca will leverage the expertise of the World Bank while also benefiting from its membership in the C40 Cities network, which includes nearly 100 major cities committed to tackling climate change. This dual approach is expected to provide the city with access to specialized knowledge and experiences from other metropolises that are undergoing similar transitions. Abderrahim Outass, the vice president of the Municipal Council responsible for international cooperation, emphasizes that engaging with the World Bank and exchanging insights within the C40 framework transforms international cooperation into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and sustainable development. Moreover, he believes that the Climate Plan marks a pivotal moment in enhancing Casablanca’s international standing.
As the project governance structure takes shape, municipal teams, in collaboration with the World Bank and other institutional partners, have initiated data collection and diagnostic assessments necessary for formulating the strategy. This initial phase aims to establish a common working foundation, identify intervention priorities, and prepare for critical decisions that will shape the future climate roadmap. Preliminary results are anticipated by the end of September 2026, paving the way for the operational roadmap that will guide the metropolis's climate actions in the coming years. Nabila Rmili has characterized the development of the PCC as a "major milestone" for Casablanca's future, reiterating the city's commitment to utilizing climate transition as a lever for sustainable development and enhanced quality of life for its residents. Ultimately, the forthcoming plan is expected to provide a structured framework for investment programming and coordination of municipal interventions, fostering an integrated vision of Casablanca's climate action that aligns with the territory's needs and the key sectors driving urban development.
As reported by leseco.ma.
