Rabat: Speakers at a conference held Thursday in Geneva on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council called for placing human rights at the center of energy policies. Participants in the side event, titled “Energy Transition, Governance and Human Rights: Toward Integrated Approaches to the Right to Development in North Africa,” stressed the need to ensure equitable access to clean, affordable energy and to strengthen investment in innovation and human capital while promoting inclusive governance so that the energy transition becomes a genuine driver of sustainable development and social justice.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the panel also reviewed concrete examples from several countries, particularly in North Africa as well as other regions of the world, highlighting both the challenges and best practices related to the energy transition. Particular attention was given to Morocco’s experience, which was repeatedly cited as a regional benchmark for energy policy and sector governance.
Speaking at the event, Rachid Guerraoui, professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), advocated an innovative vision, arguing that “artificial intelligence is becoming a human right.” The internationally recognized expert stated that AI has become an essential tool for sustainable development due to its potential to expand access to knowledge, improve natural disaster forecasting, and advance medical research. Noting that AI is also highly energy-intensive, Guerraoui emphasized the need to develop energy systems that ensure universal access. He called for broader access to open-source AI models to reduce developing countries’ dependence on major technological powers while also advocating the development of more energy-efficient, “frugal AI.”
Highlighting Morocco’s investments in renewable energy, Guerraoui also emphasized the potential for regional cooperation in innovation, industrialization, and knowledge sharing. For her part, Isabelle Chevalley, a doctor of science and founder of ‚¬°co-LIT, stated that every individual “should have access to sufficient energy,” describing access to energy as a fundamental right. She noted that advances in solar and wind technologies now make abundant, affordable energy increasingly attainable, particularly in Africa.
Meanwhile, Khadija Bendam, president of the International Nuclear Societies Council (INSC), presented Morocco as a regional model for an integrated energy transition serving the right to development. She highlighted the progress achieved since the launch of the National Energy Strategy in 2009, which has enabled the Kingdom to raise renewable energy’s share of installed electricity generation capacity to more than 45%, with a target of 52% by 2030. According to Bendam, these investments have supported job creation, industrial development, economic attractiveness, and the emergence of new sectors, particularly green hydrogen. She stressed that “the success of an energy transition does not depend solely on infrastructure or investment. Above all, it depends on the women and men who will drive this transformation,” calling for greater investment in education, research, innovation, and the inclusion of young people and women.
The event was jointly organized by the International Observatory of Geneva for Human Rights (IOPDHR), the Swiss-Moroccan Alliance, and the NGO PDES at the Geneva Press Club. It brought together an international audience of representatives from international organizations, academia, and civil society. A total of 50 participants attended, underscoring growing interest in the links between energy transition, governance, and human rights as pillars of sustainable development.