Significant advances in Moroccan environmental legislation in recent years reflect Morocco’s commitment to aligning its legal texts with international standards and fully integrating environmental justice into its overall vision of justice, emphasized the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, on Monday in Rabat.
In a speech read on his behalf by the director of cooperation and communication at the ministry, Rima Lablaili, during the 4th World Conference on Environmental Law organized by the Global Commission on Environmental Law under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), under the theme “An integrated legal protection of air, sea, and land,” the minister indicated that these reforms cover a wide range of areas including biodiversity, water resources, waste management, air pollution, and the fight against climate change.
He noted that his department places these issues among its priorities by supporting the strengthening of the national legislative framework, enhancing the capacities of legal actors, and actively cooperating with relevant national and international institutions.
Mr. Ouahbi pointed out that far from being a choice or a legislative luxury, environmental protection has now become a legal, ethical, and political requirement, “dictated by our collective responsibility towards present and future generations.”
Referring to a “shared concern,” he estimated that environmental issues seem to be gradually losing their place in international political priorities, even as “the planet has never needed us more.”
“There can be no lasting peace on a depleted planet, nor equitable development in a distressed environment,” he insisted, adding that Morocco’s participation in this event represents a valuable opportunity to exchange best practices, draw inspiration from innovative experiences, and affirm the Kingdom’s position as a committed, supportive actor resolutely focused on the future.
This fully aligns with the far-sighted vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has elevated environmental and climate issues to the rank of national priority, he emphasized.
Held at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training, this high-level meeting brings together a wide range of legal and environmental experts, researchers, government representatives, as well as international and regional organizations, with the aim of strengthening the international legal framework for environmental protection in the face of increasingly urgent climate challenges.
The conference, which spans three days, features a rich scientific program, including panels, workshops, and high-level plenary sessions addressing topics such as “International Law for the Protection of Oceans and Atmosphere,” “Integrating Climate Justice into Public Policies,” “The Fundamental Links Between Human Rights and the Environment,” and “Strengthening Legal and Institutional Capacities in the Face of Global Ecological Crises.”