The city of Essaouira hosted on Thursday the sixth edition of the Global Conference on Climate Change, bringing together more than fifty experts from Morocco and abroad, along with representatives of public and private institutions, researchers, civil society actors, and students.
Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this three-day event is organized by the International Center for Research and Capacity Building (CI2C) in partnership with Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech, and supported by several prestigious international institutions. The conference aims to explore innovative and sustainable solutions to address the challenges of climate change and to discuss ways to ensure a just energy transition, particularly across African countries.
In her opening remarks, Kholoud Kahim, President of the International Center for Research and Capacity Building, emphasized that this new edition continues the dynamic launched by previous conferences, noting that the 2024 edition, which focused on decarbonization, helped identify concrete solutions to achieve carbon neutrality and led to strategic agreements supporting the energy transition in Morocco and Africa.
She added that the 2025 conference seeks to broaden the discussion to include key aspects of adaptation, loss and damage, and resilience of territories in the face of climate change. Kahim also recalled that COP29, held in Baku in 2024, highlighted the need to double climate financing for developing countries by 2035, to strengthen their capacity to adapt and mitigate climate impacts — commitments that, she said, call for concrete action between governmental, scientific, and private-sector actors to turn climate policies into tangible results.
For his part, Stéphane Boffari, Director General of ENERGIES 2050, a partner organization of the event, underlined the importance of this conference as a platform for discussing innovation, cooperation, and practical climate solutions. He noted that the debates would go beyond scientific research to include geopolitical, economic, and social dimensions of the ecological transition.
Boffari also announced that the conclusions of this conference will be presented at COP30, scheduled to take place from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, to contribute to the global reflection on climate finance and adaptation mechanisms. He praised the symbolic significance of Essaouira — a city known for its openness, cultural heritage, and spirit of peace, tolerance, and cooperation — values that this conference seeks to promote.
Participants also attended a session on “Climate and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus”, where several experts shared insights on how to enhance the resilience of ecosystems and territories through scientific innovation and integrated approaches.
In this context, Chihab Bouden, former Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stressed the importance of adopting an integrated approach linking water, energy, and food, as a vital system whose efficiency is essential for territorial resilience and food security in the face of climate change.
Meanwhile, Abdelhamid El Haj, representing the National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Areas, presented practical solutions for oases and arid regions, highlighting sustainable agricultural practices and local initiatives that strengthen community resilience while preserving fragile ecosystems.
Khalid Temsamani, Strategic Director of the Science Policy for Climate Urgencies platform, discussed the challenges of the energy transition, reviewing national strategies for developing green hydrogen and renewable energies, and underlining the key role of integrated planning and international partnerships in achieving carbon neutrality.
Other speakers emphasized the need for comprehensive and concrete measures involving public authorities, scientists, and civil society to transform climate commitments into real, sustainable actions on the ground.
The conference program includes plenary sessions, scientific panels, thematic workshops, and field visits, focusing on three main themes: decarbonization, climate resilience, and climate justice.
Among the highlights of this edition is the “Meet a Leader” session, offering students the opportunity to engage with renowned figures around three major topics: “Memory and Cultural Bridges,” “Vision and Leadership,” and “Impact and the Future,” to inspire the next generation of climate leaders.
The event will conclude with the “CI2C Excellence Award for Climate Research Communication”, an initiative that celebrates young Moroccan researchers capable of transforming science into dialogue and action through clear, creative, and passionate communication.
