Research conducted by medical research company MedicalAid has concluded that Morocco ranks among the top three countries with the most severe health impacts due to climate change.
Out of all factors that were considered, air quality negatively impacted Morocco’s ranking the most. This is in line with a Greenpeace finding that Morocco is among the top 25 countries worldwide causing air pollution.
The burning of fossil fuels to sustain industrial facilities and power plants is the main cause of air pollution in Morocco. Exhaust fumes from automobiles and trucks that were manufactured under lower standards for emissions also contribute to Morocco’s air pollution.
This pollution is proven to increase the presence of asthma and other respiratory infections among Morocco’s inhabitants.
Morocco also scored quite poorly for lead exposure, with lead paint being one of the most common sources of exposure, especially for young kids. Until 2020, Morocco did not place any regulations on the amount of lead that was permitted to be found in paint before it could be sold.
While it is true Morocco significantly contributes to its own climate health impacts, research also shows that countries that are most often negatively affected by climate change are not necessarily the most significant contributors to climate change.
