Morocco, represented by Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, was elected to the presidency of UNEA-6 following its appointment on Monday, following a majority vote reflecting broad support for the within the African group, as the representative of the Continent in this prestigious position, under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the highest authority in environmental matters in the UN system.
The Kingdom will assume for the first time the presidency of this major body, which constitutes the world’s most important high-level global forum on the environment, and whose mission is to discuss and make global commitments for environmental protection. .
In a statement on this occasion, Ms. Benali expressed her thanks to the various countries for the confidence placed in Morocco’s candidacy, saying she was honored to assume this responsibility.
It is an honor for Morocco and for all of Africa, she declared, addressing, by the same token, her congratulations to the president of UNEA-5, Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, for his leadership and his role in advancing the discussions around all the issues raised under the Agenda of the Assembly.
Underlining the current situation marked by an environmental crisis, Minister Benali noted that the threshold of irreversibility will soon be exceeded in the absence of immediate action.
“In a spirit of continuity and efficiency, we wish to consolidate the achievements of our predecessors and accelerate the implementation of the resolutions already adopted. We want to contribute effectively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals agreed years ago,” she said.
She also insisted on the imperative of translating the resolutions into concrete actions and starting with those relating to plastic pollution and chemical products and waste, believing that the solutions advocated must be felt by the citizens of the world, as their right to a sustainable environment.
The government official also affirmed her determination to spare no effort and work with all regions, in order to consolidate the authority of the UNEA as an institution setting the global environmental agenda.
“Apart from effectiveness, the key to our success lies in the partnerships that we will manage to forge between governments, the private sector and civil society”, continued the Minister, stressing the importance of multilateral cooperation and international solidarity. in the fight once morest environmental challenges.
With its accumulated leadership in environmental protection and its ambitious initiatives driven by the enlightened vision of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has won the trust of the international community.
The success of Morocco’s candidacy is thus the culmination of its constant commitment and its irreversible choice in terms of environmental protection and sustainable development at the national level, and also confirms its role in the establishment of initiatives in favor of the African continent.
This election also marks the undeniable recognition and clear support of the international community for the Kingdom’s commitment to environmental issues.
This new success reaffirms the credibility enjoyed by the Kingdom to continue to carry the voice of Africa within international bodies for collective, fair and united action. It is part of the extension of Morocco’s long-standing commitment, materialized through several initiatives, in particular those that crowned the first African Action Summit in favor of continental co-emergence, organized at the initiative of of the King on the sidelines of COP22 in Marrakech.
The consecration of Morocco, which is the result of intense diplomatic mobilization, reinforces the Kingdom’s strategy aimed at guaranteeing greater visibility and an influential presence on the international scene, in accordance with the high royal guidelines.
