My visit to the UN Climate Change Conference being held in Marrakech right now was not quite what I expected. I expected COP22 Marrakech to be a vast hybrid event with impeccable organisation and a real feel-good atmosphere – and it was. What surprised me was the presence and active participation of hundreds, if not thousands, of young Moroccans.
School children examine a new generation of vehicles
Schools had obviously laid on day trips to the event. The children were avid consumers of the new technology on show. And they also showed keen interest in the more social aspects of environmental change. Not For Profit stands were dealing with the youngster’s questions and explaining the importance of quality environments for them and for their families.
Here a Moroccan NGO fields questions from local school children
I came across people from all over the world – either animating a stand or just visiting. And the heady mix of nationalities and ages was quite intoxicating. It’s true that Morocco still has a long way to go before it catches up with the Nordic reality of clean streets and clean air. Yet the recent ban on plastic bags is being well applied and the massive Nour solar plant near Ouzarzate is already online. The Government seems determined to make Morocco a leader in Africa when it comes to environmental progress. And the presence of so many young people today was heartening.
A view of one of the exhibition halls just outside Marrakech MedinaA Christian monk in full robes enjoys the Marrakech sunshine on a break from his conference work
As I wandered around the sprawling exhibition halls a thought struck me. It wasn’t the big, expensive stands run by multi-national corporations or governments that were attracting attention. It was the smaller and much more modest Not For Profit groups that had the most visitors. There were some astonishing audio-visual displays which were totally empty, while little hand-made stands were buzzing with people networking and chatting.
Here a government sponsored stand is practically deserted …While here a more informal NGO stand is buzzing
The organisation of the event has been top class, it’s fair to say. Many exhibition halls are open to the general public free of charge. There are restaurants and facilites in abundance. Public transport is plentiful … as are the carparks and bus parks. Security is very visible as you approach the event and yet once inside there isn’t a uniform in sight. COP22 Marrakech is a clear marker of Morocco’s capacity to organise large scale events to the highest international standards.
Another delegation arrives at COP22 Marrakech
The weather has come to the party too. It rained one day last week, yet otherwise we have enjoyed blue skies and temperatures in the mid twenties centigrade for the duration. As a member of the Congolese delegation told me – “COP22 has been much better organised than COP21 in Paris … and we’ve got amazing weather too!”
The Congolese delegation poses for the press in the public exhibition hall
I had a great time at COP22 Marrakech. To see the youth getting interested was new for me in Morocco. And it’s very refreshing, as the older generation are very stuck in their ways and very unaware of the challenges facing Morocco and Marrakech on an environmental level. Hopefully, the young ones will show them the way.
Some powerful graffiti on a stand at COP22 Marrakech
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One of the defining aspects of Marrakech Medina is it’s ramparts and gates. As a property advisor in Marrakech one is very aware that the surface area of this old town is not going to get any bigger. Nonetheless, there are still many areas that are yet to be developped and the potential for growth is very real.
The walls surrounding the Medina date from the Almoravid dynasty in the 11th Century. They were completely rebuilt following the Almohad take-over of the city about 80 years later. In fact, the Almohads tore down all the mosques, including the iconic Koutoubia, and rebuilt them slightly more aligned on Mecca.
Some of the lesser known entrances into the Medina are well worth a visit. Clustered around them are bargain properties for sale. This is the original Almohad gate at Bab Doukala in the West of the Medina – it is now unused because a double-arched structure carries road traffic just to it’s left. Doukala is the region of Morocco over towards the Atlantic coast at Casablanca. The defensive gate now houses the occasional art exhibition …
Further South can be found one of the most interesting gates in North Africa – Bab Dbagh, the Tanners Gate. It is built as a defensive chicane. Right next to it are the tanneries – ancient and modern – where the smell of the tanning hides is omnipresent. It’s one of the tougher neighbourhoods in the Medina and retains it’s authenticity as a working quarter for Moroccan families.
Another fascinating area is around Bab El Khmiss – the Thursday Gate. It takes it’s name from the market held there every Thursday. In fact the market is now a daily affair and bargain hunters come from all over Marrakech to browse the antique and second-hand objects. It is a vast, sprawling area housing artisans and sellers. The gate itself is often ignored as the market has spilled out of the Medina proper. Yet it testifies to the fact that the Medina used to be closed with huge wooden gates at nightfall.
Marrakech Medina is an historic and vibrant old city – probably one of the best preserved medieval cities outside Europe. The numerous and fascinating gates through the ramparts offer us a glimpse of what life was like in days gone by.
