Air protection

Over the period 2003–2012, the population of Morocco increased by 10.4 per cent while its urban population increased by 18 per cent, with a strong urban concentration in coastal zones (94 per cent of the population in Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, 92 per cent of that in Grand Casablanca and 83 per cent of that in Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër is urban). Economic activities, such as energy production and industries, are mostly concentrated in these zones, thus triggering the rapid development of road transport traffic. As a result, in addition to the industrial sector, the transport sector is becoming a main contributor to emissions into air, in particular of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which also produce ozone pollution – a major source of pollution in urban and suburban zones – when exposed to sunlight.

Related Subject(s): Environment and Climate Change

Countries: Morocco