Air pollution dealing an estimated 1.62% damage to Morocco’s GDP

MOROCCO: Nezha El Ouafi, Moroccan Secretary of State for Sustainable Development, has said on June 17, that the air pollution is dealing an estimated damage of 1.62 per cent to Morocco’s GDP. “Morocco attaches special importance to air pollution because of its direct impact on people and the environment,” El Ouafi added. Vehicle emissions are the major sources of air pollution in Morocco’s urban center, accounting for 50 to 60 per cent of the pollution. These statements were issued by the Moroccan secretary during a press briefing at the National Laboratory for Studies and Pollution Monitoring. El Ouafi said air pollution is becoming a major concern in Morocco, with its cost to public health and the environment estimated at nearly 1.2 billion US dollars per year.

The current National Air Quality Monitoring Network is composed of 29 fixed stations and four mobile units, but the number of stations will reach 101 by 2030, she noted. Vehicle emissions are the most important sources of air pollution in Moroccan urban centers.