Record August heat prompts calls for stronger water protection in Morocco

Moroccan environmental advocates have called for stronger protection of water supplies and faster climate adaptation after the World Meteorological Organization reported that August 2026 was the hottest August on record, alongside record ocean temperatures and the Northern Hemisphere’s hottest summer.

Hamza Ouedghiri, president of the Moroccan Association for a Green Economy for the Environment and Climate Justice, said the figures point to growing risks for agriculture, public health and ecosystems, particularly in countries already facing water shortages.

Citing Copernicus data, he said global surface air temperatures in August were about 1.65°C above estimated preindustrial levels. He also cited the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s finding that the month was the hottest August in its record dating to 1850.

For Morocco, Ouedghiri said, the concern extends beyond temperature records to the pressure that heat, irregular rainfall and repeated drought place on water supplies, farming and food security.

He cited World Bank figures showing that Morocco’s annual renewable water resources per person fell from about 2,560 cubic meters in the 1960s to roughly 620 cubic meters in 2020.

Ouedghiri called for more efficient water use, tighter groundwater protection, expanded wastewater reuse and farming methods better suited to drought. He said developing additional water sources must be accompanied by measures to protect forests and other natural systems.

Rising ocean temperatures add another concern. Ouedghiri pointed to strong marine heat waves in parts of the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, saying warmer seas can affect marine life, evaporation, rainfall and coastal weather.

He said El Niño could add temporarily to global temperatures and alter drought and flood risks, but stressed that the natural climate pattern does not explain the underlying warming caused by greenhouse gas accumulation.

Mohamed Benatta, coordinator of the Environmental Coalition for Northern Morocco, linked the succession of temperature records to continued reliance on fossil fuels in industry and other economic activities.

He warned that prolonged warming would increase exposure to severe floods and extended droughts, citing Morocco’s experience over the past seven years. A slow transition toward renewable energy would compound those risks, he said.

Ouedghiri urged authorities to strengthen early warning systems and use scientific data in planning, with researchers, civil society and local communities involved in designing and implementing adaptation policies.

He also identified clean energy, water efficiency, ecosystem restoration and environmental innovation as areas where investment could support economic activity while helping communities prepare for the effects of a warmer climate.