Morocco's 'Exceptional' Floods and the Climate Debt
Let's follow the trail: THE ACTORS: Who is involved in this story? Moroccan Government: Responsible for disaster response, infrastructure, and international appeals. E.U. and International Donors: Primarily the European Union, which has historically provided significant development and climate adaptation funding to Morocco, including through instruments like the Neighbourhood, Development, and
International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). Local Moroccan Communities: The 154,000+ evacuated individuals, disproportionately rural poor in low-lying northwestern regions, whose livelihoods are directly impacted. Fossil Fuel Industries & Developed Nations: The primary historic and ongoing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, whose policies contribute to the climate patterns causing these
"exceptional" floods. THE FUNDING: Where does their money come from? Moroccan Government: National budget, often supplemented by loans or grants; Morocco’s public debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 70% in 2023, making large-scale, self-funded climate resilience projects challenging (IMF, 2023). E.U. Funding: The E.U. allocated €1.3 billion in bilateral assistance to Morocco for 2021-2027, with a focus on
'green' and inclusive development. However, this is largely development aid, not explicitly compensation for climate damages (European Commission, 2021). Humanitarian Aid: Post-disaster, appeals are made to various international bodies and NGOs, often characterized by short-term emergency relief rather than long-term resilience building. THE INCENTIVES: What do they gain from this narrative?