Conference Description:

In the context of a global economic transformation, comes the third edition of the International Congress on Desert Economy – Dakhla (ICDED), annually co-organized by the National School of Business and Management (ENCG) of Dakhla-Morocco and the Regional Council of Dakhla Oued Eddahab. The ultimate purpose is to be a scientific and multidisciplinary platform on desert and Sahara economy development, in order to contribute effectively to the good governance and in the sustainable development of desert regions, by stimulating meetings between all stakeholders on a global scale, with a view to fostering cooperation and partnership, among (Sahara) desert countries (Africa, the Gulf States, the United States of America, China, Australia...), with the aim of creating a conducive environment to the exchange of experiences, expertise and innovation, around themes related to desert economy, such as: Tourism and travel industry, agriculture, renewable energy, raw materials, transportation and logistics, sea and ocean economy, technology and innovation, entertainment and sport economy, cultural and intangible heritage, nature and environment...Thus, this special edition entitled “ Deserts at the center of global economic transformation ”, will be held on 21 and 22 April 2020 at DakhlaMorocco, and will be devoted to addressing general issues on desert (Sahara) economy.

As a matter of fact, economic development worldwide is entirely dependent on the interactions between energy and economy systems, where our dependence on clean and renewable energy becomes more and more confirmed. Energy Economics could be defined as a branch of economic studies devoted to quantitatively and qualitatively deciphering of our well-being and our prosperity in their interaction with energy resources.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, by 2050, the overall total investment in the energy system would need to reach USD 110 trillion (around 2% of average annual GDP over this period), and the level of extra investments needed to set the world on a more climate-friendly path above current plans and policies, is USD 15 trillion. The share of renewables in the world's total final energy consumption has to increase six times faster to match up to agreed climate goals, precisely, the seventh Sustainable Development Goal, which states for ensuring, that everyone, will be able to have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. For that, international financial flows to developing countries, in support of clean and renewable energy, reached USD 18.6 billion in 2016, almost doubling from USD 9.9 billion in 2010, this trend is likely to increase due to the promising opportunities offered by a steady decline in renewable energy production costs, leading to lower prices.

So far, in some countries, oceans and seas still the main sources of conventional energy (oil, gas), despite their richness in marine renewable energies: traditional marine renewable energies (ocean wind energy and ocean solar energy), wave energy and tidal energy, as specific forms of marine (ocean) power. Also, knowing that ocean-based renewable energy has not yet achieved the economies of scale, necessary for significant cost reductions, but, as oceans and seas cover more than 70 % of the Earth’s surface, it's not surprising that a large share of future energy production, will probably come from ocean-based renewable energy, and to show the probable energy glut, published studies have shown that the ocean wind energy potential is so important and large enough , that it could theoretically be used to propel human civilization.
Deserts across the globe with their natural maritime sprawl, are the scene of huge energy projects that will play a pivotal role in keeping up with sustainable development. This progress is governed by an environmental transformation that will fundamentally change our lifestyle, as sustainability is its corn stone. Clearly, concepts like the green economy or circular economy, the blue or ocean economy and the ecotourism (desert tourism), are all supposed to be clean renewable energy dependant. Thus, the environmental impact of any human activity, such as, travel and tourism industry, land and maritime transport, shipping and logistics, agricultural and fishing... is a major criterion that will tag the range of receptivity and continuity of these economic activities, in the light of an increasingly environmentally-friendly legal arsenal, with a focus on green finance.

Morocco took up the challenge of increasing green renewable energy production from total renewable energy to 52 % by 2030, initially set at 42 % by 2020. This specific achievement becomes a reality thanks to the adoption of an ambitious energy strategy, including generating renewable energies in Moroccan deserts: The Solar Complex (Noor) in Ouarzazate, the largest wind farm in Africa located in the coastal desert of the city of Tarfaya, and last but not