High Commissioner Abdeladim Lhafi from Morocco, a country preparing for the UN Climate Conference, on a visit to Finland

Abdeladim Lhafi, High Commissioner for Water and Forests of Morocco, visits Finland on 8-10 June, where he will also meet the Finnish Minister of Agriculture and the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen. The aim of the visit is to deepen the cooperation relating to forests and aquaculture between the two countries and prepare for the meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change to be held in Marrakech on 7-18 November.

High Commissioner Lhafi and Minister Tiilikainen will also discuss the arrangements for the COP22. Mr Lhafi is active in leading the preparations of the meeting, whose success is a high priority for Morocco. The visit of High Commissioner Lhafi is part of the work to achieve this, as Finland is a highly valued cooperation partner in the fight against climate change. 

Morocco has stressed that both state and non-state actors need to be involved in climate action. We may expect to see a continuation to the global Lima-Paris Action Agenda of the civil society which aims to boost actions against climate change already before the Paris Agreement enters into force.

In Paris Morocco called for fundamental changes in policies as the country is investing strongly in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Morocco has announced highly ambitious climate objectives which, if they come true, would be a sufficient input in meeting the common objective agreed in Paris.  In particular, Morocco is investing in the energy, waste, water and wastewater sectors as well as in agriculture and sustainable forestry.

Among the aims of High Commissioner Lhafi's visit is also to increase cooperation in the natural resources sectors between Finland and Morocco. The two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding with the aim to enhance cooperation especially with regard to forests and forestry, aquaculture and use of water resources. During the visit the delegation of High Commissioner Lhafi will also learn about Finnish seed production and sawmilling and harvesting wood from forests.

Morocco is very susceptible to the impacts of climate change, which involves serious threats to, for example, access to water. If the current trends continue the situation will become critical in the next few decades. The main challenges include growth in consumption due to urbanisation and farming, consequences of climate change, water contamination, and unsustainable use of groundwater.

Inquiries: 
Marjukka Mähönen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel.  +358 40 721 7161
Heikki Granholm, Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 29 516 2130
Outi Honkatukia, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 50 341 1758