The transport sector has the highest share of total final consumption of energy in Morocco (around 37% in 2019) and was responsible for over 21% of the country’s GHG emissions in 2018.^4,6 Transport in Morocco is powered almost exclusively by imported oil (99% of the fuel mix in 2019).⁴

With the Government of Morocco estimating a 5% annual growth in fuel consumption for the transport sector, it will result in emissions increasing if still based on fossil fuels.⁴

To align with 1.5°C compatible pathways, Morocco should reduce the direct annual CO₂ emissions from the transport sector from 19 MtCO₂ in 2019 to between 9-10 MtCO₂ in 2030, and fully decarbonise the sector by 2049-2062. This can be achieved through a rapid electrification, with the share of electricity growing from 1% in 2019, to 5-45% in 2030, and 40-91% by 2050.¹⁵

Some scenarios indicate that the share of oil in the transport sector could be reduced to as low as 3% by 2050.

Morocco aims to reduce its transport sector’s emissions by around 5 MtCO₂e by 2030 (relative to BAU levels) through a range of measures outlines in its Third Biennial Update Report.⁴ These include the expansion of tramways in Rabat and Casablanca; the adoption of Euro 6 emissions standards for new vehicles from January 2024; introduction of a “bonus-malus system” to encourage purchase of low-emission vehicles, and penalisation of the most polluting vehicle models (see the targets section for more information).⁴ While Morocco has taken some small steps to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), including the installation of charging stations on the Tangier-Agadir highway, there are no national targets for the development of electric mobility.⁷

While the above steps are encouraging, Morocco needs to accelerate and enhance the implementation of such measures to decarbonise the transport sector in a timely fashion. The adoption of electric-powered vehicles and enhanced public transit options are key avenues through which the necessary decarbonisation may be achieved.

¹ Ministère de l’Energie, des M. et de l’Environnement, D. de l’Environnement. Contribution Déterminée au Niveau National – Actualisée. (2021).

² Chargé de l’Environnement. 3éme Communication Nationale du Maroc à la Convention Cadre des Nations Unies sur les Changements Climatiques. (2016).

³ Chargé de l’Environnement. Plan Climat National à horizon 2030. (2020).

⁴ Département du Développement Durable. 3ème Rapport Biennal Actualisé du Maroc dans le cadre de la CCNUCC. (2022).

⁵ Département de l’Environnement. 2ème Rapport Biennal Actualisé Dans le cadre de la convention cadre des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques. (2019).

⁶ International Energy Agency. Morocco: Data Browser. International Energy Agency. (2022).

⁷ Climate Action Tracker. Morocco: Policies & action. Climate Action Tracker. (2021).

⁸ Hatim, Y. Morocco Extends Jorf Lasfar Power Plant Contract With Emirati Company. Morocco World News. (2020).

⁹ Ministry of Economy and Finance. Signing ceremony for the extension of the Power Purchase Agreement of the Jorf Lasfar Thermal Power Plant. Ministry of Economy and Finance. (2020).

¹⁰ Climate Action Tracker. Morocco: Targets. Climate Action Tracker. (2021).

¹¹ MAP Ecology. «Forêts du Maroc 2020-2030» : Une stratégie consacrant la vision royale du DD. Agence Marocaine De Presse. (2020).

¹² Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau portable. Production de l’Electricité. Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau portable..

¹³ Nareva. Our Assets and Projects: Safi Thermal Power Plant. Nareva. (2020).

¹⁴ Global cost-effective pathways assessed by the IPCC Special Report 1.5°C tend to include fossil fuel use well beyond the time at which these could be phased out, compared to what is understood from bottom-up approaches, and often rely on rather conservative assumptions in the development of renewable energy technologies. This tends to result in greater reliance on technological CDR than if a faster transition to renewables were achieved. The scenarios available at the time of this analysis focus particularly on BECCS as a net-negative emission technology, and our downscaling methods do not yet take national BECCS potentials into account.

¹⁵ It should be noted, however, that an increased share of electricity can only facilitate the decarbonisation of the building sector if the electricity is sourced from renewable energies. The “Power” section of this profile elaborates on the pathways for decarbonisation of Morocco’s power sector.