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TECHx
3 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
WGEO Forum Backs Africa's Green Economy Drive
Home » Africa » WGEO Forum Backs Africa's Green Economy Drive HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), delivered the opening keynote at the first Regional Green Economy Forum (RGEF) 2025 in Tangier, Morocco. The event was held under the theme 'Empowering African Cities: Paving the Path to Carbon Neutrality' and under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Al Tayer expressed deep appreciation to King Mohammed VI for his support and vision in driving Morocco's leadership in the global green economy. He also thanked the Kingdom of Morocco and the city of Tangier for hosting the forum and their commitment to sustainability. The forum featured high-level speakers, including: HE Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General, UCLG-AFRICA James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC WGEO reported that ministers, mayors, youth leaders, and experts from across Africa and globally joined the two-day forum to discuss sustainable strategies for achieving carbon neutrality in African cities. Al Tayer highlighted the UAE's efforts in international climate cooperation, noting leadership support from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He also acknowledged the forum's strategic partners, including Morocco's Ministry of Energy, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, and UCLG-AFRICA. He emphasized that African cities face urgent challenges such as rising temperatures and water scarcity. However, he noted cities also hold the power to drive climate solutions and positive transformation. Al Tayer stated that WGEO's Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE), involving over 90 countries, provides a platform for inclusive and resilient growth. He announced the Cities Carbon Neutral Initiative in collaboration with UCLG-Africa, aiming to equip African cities for the green transition. The forum's goals included supporting local governments in planning and financing sustainable projects, boosting African leadership in green sectors, and fostering collaboration among public and private stakeholders. Al Tayer also linked the forum's mission to the outcomes of COP28 and upcoming COP29, emphasizing its role in shaping the World Green Economy Summit 2025, set to take place in Dubai. He reaffirmed WGEO's commitment to an inclusive dialogue that engages all voices local authorities, youth, and communities. He encouraged the scaling of successful models in solar energy, green mobility, and waste-to-energy, while promoting green investment and innovation. HE Leila Benali revealed that Morocco's accession to GAGE in 2023 reflects its strategic push for a fair and sustainable development model. She stressed the urgent need for a green transition and noted the role of cities in achieving this. Benali highlighted Morocco's National Strategy for Sustainable Development, aligned with international frameworks, aiming for an inclusive green economy by 2035. HE Omar Moro, President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with WGEO to promote green urban development and climate finance. He reaffirmed the region's leadership role as a link between Africa and Europe in green transformation. The forum also included the High-Level African Mayors' Roundtable and a Youth Roundtable, where Al Tayer underscored the importance of youth as today's partners in climate action. He concluded by urging all participants to shift from discussion to implementation and to remember the forum for its partnerships and impactful outcomes. The event reinforced WGEO's call to action: to build carbon-neutral cities across Africa and drive the continent's green economy forward.
Emirates 24/7
4 days ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Saeed Al Tayer Inaugurates the Regional Green Economy Forum 2025
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), delivered the opening keynote at the first edition of the Regional Green Economy Forum (RGEF) 2025 on carbon neutral cities, held under the theme 'Empowering African Cities: Paving the Path to Carbon Neutrality' in Tangier, Morocco, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. In his keynote address, HE Al Tayer said: ' I would like to express our sincere thanks and profound gratitude to His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, who honoured the Forum with his High Patronage, embodying through his enlightened vision the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Morocco in leading the global transition towards a sustainable green economy that achieves prosperity and well-being for the people of the Earth and for future generations. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this Forum. I extend my sincere appreciation to the host country, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the vibrant city of Tangier for their steadfast commitment to sustainable development and climate action.' The opening ceremony featured speeches by HE Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Kingdom of Morocco; HE Omar Moro, President of the Council of Tangier Tetouan Al-Hoceima Region (CRTTA);HE Younes Tazi, Wali of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region, Governor of the Tangier- Tetouan-Al Hoceima; Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-AFRICA); HE Nathalie Fustier, Resident Coordinator, United Nations, Kingdom of Morocco; James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC; and HE Mounir Laymouri, Mayor of Tangier, and President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Municipal Councils. The forum, hosted over two days, welcomed high-level participation from ministers, mayors, youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts from across Africa and the globe to explore practical and sustainable pathways to achieve carbon neutrality in African cities. HE Al Tayer highlighted the lead of the United Arab Emirates in championing international cooperation on climate action: 'The UAE leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has emphasised the utmost importance of global collaboration to address climate challenges. He also expressed appreciation to the event's strategic partners—the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa)—for their valuable partnership in advancing sustainable urban development across the continent. HE Al Tayer emphasised that this year's forum comes at a critical moment, stating: 'Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is a present reality. African cities are on the frontlines, confronting rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. However, within this challenge lies an extraordinary opportunity. Cities are not only vulnerable; they are vital engines of positive transformation.' HE noted that through the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE), which unites over 90 countries, WGEO has created a dynamic platform for inclusive, green, and resilient growth, with Africa serving as a cornerstone of this alliance. In collaboration with UCLG-Africa, WGEO's Cities Carbon Neutral Initiative aims to empower African cities to lead the transition toward low-carbon, climate-resilient urban environments. 'This forum is more than a milestone—it is a springboard for action,' he added. HE Al Tayer outlined the forum's collective mission, which includes equipping local governments with the tools and resources needed to plan, finance, and implement sustainable solutions; promoting African leadership in renewable energy, smart mobility, green buildings, and circular economy practices; fostering collaboration between governments, the private sector, academia, youth, and civil society; and mobilising innovation to transform carbon neutrality from aspiration into implementation. He further emphasised that the forum aligns with the UAE Consensus outcomes of COP28 and the outcomes of COP29 and plays a pivotal role in shaping the World Green Economy Summit 2025, to be held in Dubai, UAE, this October. The forum will directly contribute to shaping Africa's urban roadmap on the global climate agenda. HE Al Tayer reaffirmed WGEO's commitment to inclusive dialogue: 'We are determined to ensure that every city, region, and voice is involved in shaping our shared future. Our theme calls for transcending conventional approaches and building equitable, sustainable cities by enhancing local capacities to design bankable green projects; scaling successful models in solar energy, sustainable mobility, and waste-to-energy; fostering inclusive public-private partnerships; engaging youth and communities to ensure bottom-up transformation; and building a network of African cities and global partners committed to climate justice and shared prosperity.' In conclusion, HE Al Tayer called on participants to work together over the two-day forum alongside ministers, mayors, entrepreneurs, youth, and urban development experts to co-create ideas and solutions that will shape the cities of tomorrow. 'Let us seize this opportunity to move from discussion to real action,' he concluded. 'Let this forum be remembered not only for its dialogue, but also for the partnerships it fostered and the impactful solutions it launched across the African continent,' HE concluded. HE Leila Benali emphasised that the accession of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Global Alliance for Green Economy (GAGE) in November 2023 reflects its strategic commitment to a fair, inclusive, and sustainable development model. She also acknowledged the pioneering role of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa) in advancing the sustainability agenda at the local level. Benali stressed that transitioning to a green economy is no longer a developmental option, but also a necessary and strategic imperative to address the growing climate and developmental challenges facing the continent. She reaffirmed the commitment to implementing and updating the National Strategy for Sustainable Development in line with its New Development Model and international agreements, with the goal of building a green, inclusive economy by 2035. Benali called for greater exchange of knowledge and best practices among African cities as a boost for innovation and carbon neutrality. She emphasised that, despite its challenges, Africa has all the necessary assets to become a global hub for climate solutions—thanks to its abundant natural resources, human capital, visionary leadership, and ambitious youth. HE Omar Moro, President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, affirmed that the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, as a strategic bridge between Africa and Europe, aspires to lead by example in green transformation by promoting investment in renewable energy and enhancing environmental awareness. He also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with WGEO, marking the beginning of a robust partnership focused on green urban development and innovative climate finance. He concluded by reiterating the Council's full commitment to implementing the forum's outcomes and contributing to practical, action-oriented initiatives that help build greener, fairer, and more resilient cities. As part of the Forum, Al Tayer opened the proceedings of the High-Level African Mayors' Roundtable on: Advancing Carbon Neutral Cities in Africa. In his opening address, he affirmed WGEO commitment to supporting African cities in their transition towards a green economy through the "Carbon Neutral Cities Initiative" launched in Dubai, UAE. 'From Tangier to Cairo, let us amplify a powerful message: African cities are not just facing the climate crisis; they are leading the solutions,' he concluded. In his welcome remarks at the Youth Roundtable, held as part of the Forum activities under the theme 'Mentoring the Future – Nurturing Young Leaders for a Sustainable World,' HE Al Tayer emphasised the central role of the youth and that youth leaders are active partners today, not tomorrow. HE welcomed young leaders as vital contributors, stressing that their ideas and energies are central to the transition toward a green economy. He warned of the consequences of unbalanced growth, manifested in climate change and biodiversity loss. He clarified that the green economy requires a fundamental transformation in thinking and lifestyles, relying on the courage and leadership of youth.
Maroc
6 days ago
- Business
- Maroc
First Regional Green Economy Forum Kicks Off in Tangier
The first edition of the Regional Green Economy Forum (RGEF) kicked off on Thursday in Tangier with a focus on the theme 'Empowering African Cities, Paving the Path to Carbon Neutrality.' This event, organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, is an initiative of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), supported by the Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), with the aim of promoting sustainable solutions to support African cities. The Forum brings together experts and representatives from local governments, national, African, and international institutions, to support Africa's efforts toward sustainable, low-carbon urban development, strengthen cooperation between local, national, and international actors, encourage the exchange of experiences and best practices, and promote investment in green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility. The Forum also serves as a platform for discussion on current themes such as multi-level governance, energy transition, circular economy, sustainable mobility, and financing mechanisms, with the aim of supporting strategies that lead African cities toward carbon neutrality. Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting joint African action to build a green, resilient, and prosperous future for the continent, one that meets the aspirations of its people and protects the rights of current and future generations. In a video message, the minister emphasized that Morocco, under the farsighted leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, has made South-South cooperation a strategic choice and a central pillar of its foreign policy, based on active solidarity and integration, highlighting several pioneering initiatives launched by the Kingdom to strengthen climate action in Africa. WGEO President Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer noted that the Forum is taking place as climate change becomes a tangible reality, with African cities on the front lines facing rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. He pointed out that these challenges are also drivers of positive transformation toward sustainable development. He stated that WGEO, through the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE), which includes representatives from 100 countries, works to ensure inclusive, resilient green growth, with Africa as 'the cornerstone of this alliance,' aiming to build fair and sustainable cities capable of adapting to climate change by strengthening their capacity to develop feasible green projects, renewable energy solutions, sustainable mobility, and waste-to-energy initiatives. President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, Omar Moro, emphasized the region's aspiration to become a model of green economy transition, leveraging its role as a bridge between Africa and Europe, underlining its efforts to promote investment in renewable energy, develop sustainable infrastructure, support green innovation, raise awareness of the green economy, and engage citizens in environmental preservation. He also stressed that the Forum is an effective platform for experience-sharing between local governments, the public and private sectors, and civil society, helping unite the efforts of city leaders and local stakeholders to design practical projects and foster public-private partnerships aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in urban areas. Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, pointed out that although Africa contributes only 3-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the continents most exposed and vulnerable to climate change effects. He stressed that Africa has the capacity to surpass polluting and unequal development models by building greener, smarter cities, as already demonstrated by numerous African cities, both large and small, committed to innovative sustainability initiatives. United Nations Resident Coordinator in Morocco, Nathalie Fustier, highlighted that this regional forum fits within a critical momentum of South-South cooperation and experience-sharing among African cities, describing it as a strategic platform for peer learning, identifying bankable projects, building coalitions, and developing carbon neutrality pathways tailored to African realities. She also emphasized the efforts of the UN System in Morocco to support cities and territories in this ambitious green transition and reiterated the UN's full commitment to accompanying this process with all partners, adding: 'It is our collective responsibility to make African cities more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient living spaces.' Tangier Mayor Mounir Laymouri, also President of the Moroccan Association of Municipal Council Presidents (AMPCC), affirmed that Africa lies at the heart of the green transition, stating that this transformation depends on empowering cities and local authorities with the necessary resources to play their role. He also noted that African local governments often face limitations in financial and human resources. The two-day event includes debates on various green economy-related topics, such as carbon neutrality, policies and governance, greening African cities, renewable energy solutions, sustainable transport, waste management and circular economy, smart water management, and green industrialization.
