On Monday 9 February at 2 pm, the Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé hotel hosted a feedback workshop on voluntary carbon markets in Morocco, bringing together a wide range of public, private and academic stakeholders to discuss an issue that has become central to the fight against climate change.  

This event forms part of the research project ‘Exploring the Potential and Challenges of Voluntary Carbon Markets in the Global South’, led by Environment for Development (EfD) and Africa Energy Transition & Services (AETS), a programme running from 2024 to 2026 aimed at better understanding the dynamics, potential and constraints of voluntary carbon markets in the Global South, particularly in Africa.

During the discussions, participants examined in detail the opportunities these markets offer for financing climate projects, whilst highlighting the structural challenges that continue to hinder their development. Discussions focused on governance issues, the need to ensure the credibility of the mechanisms, and the levers that need to be activated to build a national ecosystem capable of attracting investment.

Morocco, building on its progress in renewable energy and its strategic positioning, appears to be a fertile ground for the development of these instruments, provided that regulatory frameworks and coordination between the various stakeholders are strengthened.

The event brought together leading institutions and organisations, including the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development (MTEDD), Casablanca Finance City (CFC), the Mohammed VI Investment Fund (FMVI), MEDZ, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Attijariwafa Bank, as well as research and innovation stakeholders such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), ESSEC Business School and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Specialised organisations such as VivoTech, Toumi StartGreen Advisory, INCO and Positive Agenda also took part in the discussions, demonstrating the diversity of expertise brought to bear.

This workshop thus provided an opportunity to share insights drawn from ongoing research, whilst fostering constructive dialogue among the various stakeholders. It marks an important milestone in the collective discussion on the role Morocco can play in the growth of voluntary carbon markets across Africa, laying the foundations for a gradual approach tailored to the country’s specific circumstances.