Activists, politicians offer input on Morocco's environmental charter

2010-01-26

Morocco is carrying out a nation-wide consultation aimed at getting feedback on its environmental charter, which is still a work in progress.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui from Rabat for Magharebia – 26/01/10

[Naoufel Cherkaoui] Morocco is soliciting public reaction to its draft environmental charter.

Morocco is consulting with political and environmental groups about the first draft of the country's environmental charter, which targets preserving the environment and fostering sustainable development.

While the first draft was taking shape, the government struggled with how to encourage Moroccans to practice environmental stewardship. To address this issue, King Mohammed VI launched the country-wide consultation last October, while also holding regional awareness-raising workshops this month. The results of the consultation will be considered as the charter's second draft is drawn up.

As the consultation heads for its February 23rd conclusion, however, there is still disagreement over the clarity of the draft and its accessibility to Moroccan citizens.

"I think it's easy for citizens to understand the charter," Environmental Ministry spokesperson Abderrahim Diab told Magharebia on January 24th. "We see some commercial spots on TV discussing the project, in addition to a special website for the charter addressing all age groups."

He said the legal language of the charter may be difficult for Moroccans to understand, but the intent will be widely appreciated.

"Concerning the messages that can be conveyed through the charter, I'm positive that they'll be thoroughly understood by the layperson," Diab said.

But the head of the Sustainable Development and Environment Preservation Association, Abdessalam Rouchdi, is unhappy with the government's efforts to educate citizens about the charter.

"Activists in the field of environmental preservation couldn't quite grasp the content of the charter draft, so how can the layperson be expected to understand it?" he asked Magharebia on January 24th. "The government didn't take any initiative to raise the awareness of citizens or explain the core idea and aspects of the charter."

He also expressed concerns over the lack of political will among Moroccan political parties to effect real environmental change.

Other Moroccans involved in the consultations said it was important to implement the charter's measures.

"We can't discuss how the charter should be respected by the citizen, in the absence of mandatory obligation," said Mohamed kourouk, professor of climatology at Hassan II Ain Chok University in Casablanca. "We have laws that are never respected because individuals are not prepared for that."

Unified Socialist Party chief Mouhamed Moujahid echoed Kourouk's concerns.

"No charter can be sufficient, since it will never be able to cover all aspects of environmental preservation, since it may not be thoroughly implemented," he told Magharebia on January 24th. He said that in order for the charter to work, its implementation "needs to be monitored".

The Environmental Ministry's spokesperson, Diab, called having a charter an important first step.

"There's a big difference between having a charter and not having one. When we have a charter, there's a chance to improve it and develop it," he said.

"Either way, launching a charter for the environment remains a significant step forward."