Rabat Joins Global Cities for 4th Annual Car-Free Day on October 3

This is an opportunity to limit exhaust gases related to the intensive use of cars, protect the environment and improve the quality and standard of living, the association said.

The event itself only concerns Mohammed V Avenue, but Rbatis are called upon to respect this restriction in general, to participate in the long-term objectives of this day. This event, which is in its 4th edition, has allowed the Moroccan capital to join the world’s largest cities that celebrate this World Day, such as Paris and Brussels.

For Aziz El Fekkak, president of the association, it is a larger-scale action, which, in the long run, aims above all to "raise awareness among people to respect and protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions".

And to add that "among the things we can do on the ground, there is eco-driving which consists for example of stopping the car engine at the red light, organizing travel differently, abandoning the use of the car for nearby errands, maintaining tires, car, etc.".

Moreover, the WHO stated in a press release on the sidelines of the celebration that "with climate change, air pollution is one of the main environmental threats to health".

"The new WHO global air quality guidelines present data clearly showing the harmful effects of air pollution on health, at even lower concentrations than previously believed," it added. It is therefore a question of adopting "new air quality standards to protect the health of populations".