• King Mohammed VI launched Morocco’s $36 billion National Adaptation Plan in 2016 to climate-proof water, agriculture, and forestry while boosting national security and development.
• He connected adaptation to economic progress with Génération Green and Forests of Morocco, advancing drought-resistant crops, irrigation, and rural jobs to protect vulnerable communities.
• Hosting COP22, launching the Adaptation of African Agriculture Initiative, and ranking 8th globally in 2025 strengthened Morocco’s leadership and the King’s reputation as a climate champion.

What is King Mohammed VI HOT? 

Answer: King Mohammed VI launched Morocco’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP1) in 2016, investing $36 billion to climate-proof key sectors (water, agriculture, forestry) in a five-pillar strategy. He is a climate leader driven by strategic vision linking environmental action to security, development, and economic transformation. 

The current king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, is positioning his country as a key player in the global south to tackle the adverse repercussions of climate change by focusing on the most vulnerable sectors: water, forestry, and agriculture. In October 2016, he launched Morocco’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP1), recognising the critical role of environmental action in ensuring national security, fostering sustainable development, and driving economic transformation.

NAP1 is a five-pillar climate strategy plan, committed to spending 15% of its overall investment budgets, amounting to approximately 36 billion USD, for the period between 2020 and 2030. The first pillar, institutions, aims to create new frameworks to allow high-level oversight in climate matters, like the National Committee for Climate Change, established in 2007. The second pillar, scientific research, ensures reliable forecasting of severe weather events (GIS-based catastrophe risk modelling).

The third is vulnerability mitigation; its efforts reduce the potential damage caused by climate change to society. The fourth axis, ecosystem resilience, targets community involvement to combat desertification: Forests of Morocco 2020–2030. Finally, economic resilience is a strategy seen in “Génération Green 2020–2030” that utilises climate-smart agriculture, advanced irrigation technologies, drought-resistant crops, and renewable energy expansion to climate-proof key sectors—agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and industry. 

The policy bolstered Morocco’s reputation as a regional climate leader and linked environmental action to its broader goals of security and economic modernization. King Mohammed VI’s climate agenda earned international recognition (example: hosting COP22 and serving on UN climate forums) and showcased a strategic vision that treating adaptation as nation-building can yield developmental co-benefits.

What is changing King Mohammed VI’s heat level?

Answer: The National Adaptation Plan (NAP1) was able to build resilience across Morocco’s key sectors. King Mohammed VI positioned Morocco as a climate leader, linking environmental action to development and global credibility through the African Agriculture Adaptation and hosting COP22.

Morocco approved its National Adaptation Plan (NAP1), which is central to its climate vision. It defines priority measures under eight sectors: water, agriculture, fisheries, forests, biodiversity, health, tourism, and accommodation. The process for NAP1 started in 2015 to coordinate resilience plans with Paris Agreement targets. Government expenditures for climate-related activities rose from less than 2% in 2016 to around 6–9% per year since 2017.

External investments, such as those by the Green Climate Fund, catalyzed projects to improve irrigation efficiency, including an increase in farmland and solar-powered water pumping systems, enhancing King Mohammed VI’s credibility with a measurable environmental impact. However, regulations regarding agriculture and water management were delayed due to the complexities of combining traditional irrigation practices with modern sustainability requirements. Nonetheless, by being focused and delivering early successes, NAP1 fortified the King’s stance and Morocco’s reputation across the region. 

The international initiatives by King Mohammed VI further improved his reputation. Under his rule, Morocco has established itself as a global champion in fighting climate challenges by hosting COP22 in 2016 and inspiring bold initiatives. The King’s Adaptation of the African Agriculture Initiative facilitates collaborative platforms such as regional workshops, funding coalitions, and expert task forces that can jointly develop and implement climate-resilient agricultural solutions. Sustainable practices are encouraged by the AAAs program, making emerging economies like Morocco a pioneer by being among the first African countries to implement climate resilience into agricultural policies on a large scale.

During the COP22 in 2016, King Mohammed VI encouraged global leaders to give up incremental approaches and make a brave pact for action to fight global warming, highlighting Morocco’s adaptation initiatives as scalable models for water and agricultural resilience, and also transnational collaboration through the AAA initiative. These initiatives resulted in Morocco being ranked 8th in 2025’s Climate Change Performance Index, a regional high, with Africa’s highest rank. Mohammed VI’s success places him as a global climate champion by means of policies and diplomacy.

What is driving King Mohammed VI?

Answer: King Mohammed VI launched NAP1 with a $36 billion commitment to climate-proof key sectors (water, agriculture, forestry) while using green policies as tools for national development, job creation, and positioning Morocco as a climate leader in the Global South.

King Mohammed VI is driven by personal and governance goals, focusing on the development of Morocco through security, development, and economic transformation. He understands the crucial role of green policies in fostering the country’s key economic sectors, which are among the most vulnerable to climate change. His development-driven approach was evident in projects like the Forests of Morocco 2020–2030 and Génération Green 2020–2030. These projects highlight his vision of climate-proofing the agricultural and tourism sector to drive economic growth and protect thousands of jobs for Moroccans.

King Mohammed VI launched Morocco’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP1) to strengthen climate resilience in the country’s most vulnerable sectors—water, forestry, and agriculture—while linking environmental action to national development and stability. With a $36 billion investment commitment through 2030, NAP1 aims to modernize institutions, boost disaster preparedness, and promote sustainable growth. By doing so, it positions Morocco as a climate leader in the Global South and integrates adaptation into long-term state-building and economic transformation.

Through NAP1, King Mohammed VI aimed not only to build national climate resilience but also to position Morocco as a regional leader in adaptation, linking environmental action to long-term security and sustainable economic development.

What does this mean for you?

Answer: Morocco’s NAP1 empowers youth as agents of climate resilience, integrating adaptation into national development to protect livelihoods, boost innovation, and ensure a sustainable, secure future for all Moroccans.

Morocco’s NAP1 develops a climate strategy to safeguard livelihoods and build resilience by involving and activating the youth. Morocco’s adaptation approach to climate change holds important lessons, such as the importance of linking national adaptation priorities with community-level action, engaging youth in water and agriculture projects, and building resilience in more vulnerable areas. The NAP1 calls for mainstreaming of adaptation to national development plans by showcasing how climate action can be made practical and inclusive through youth-led innovation challenges, support for education in sustainability, and training programs that build up future leaders. Climate governance places lives and livelihoods above emission reductions. The NAP1 gives special focus to water and agriculture, keeping at its core people’s well-being and economic security. 

Without climate adaptation efforts, Africa can lose 25% of its agricultural productivity by 2050. This alarming prospect makes the call to action for Morocco and its people even more urgent.  By prioritizing resilience against climate challenges, it ensures a sustainable future for vulnerable groups and Morocco as a whole. The NAP1 welcomes youth engagement with climate action by allowing their active participation in consultations and innovations. Moreover, the African 2025 climate hackathon brought together 100 African youths to brainstorm ideas to be shared between water management, solar access, and resilience tech. 

With ministries and UN backing, they created projects such as efficient irrigation and drought plan, with mentorship and seed funding accorded to their innovations. National adaptation plans prepare businesses and students for climate risks by equipping them with training on sustainable practices and tools to assess vulnerabilities and adapt to changes in the face of environmental threats. Investing in young people prepares future generations to back NAP1 and keep leaders accountable. Morocco’s NAP1 demonstrates resilience to climate change as a collective and safeguards people’s futures.

IExRAIA Summer Research Program:

This article is an excerpt from a report on King Mohammed VI produced as part of an RAIA research program on climate leaders. For a full picture of Ruto’s climate leadership, including the sources, read the full report. This project was fully financed by IE University’s IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.

Authors: Finja Ullrich & Aleksej Obradovic

Editor: Ruby Hawari

Project Leads: Roxane de Bergevin & Stefani Obradovic