Morocco is aligning its economic practices with global ESG standards.

Listed companies on the Casablanca Stock Exchange are encouraged to publish ESG reports.

ESG integration requires accounting tools for social and environmental impact measurement.

Global frameworks like GRI and SASB are being adapted for the Moroccan context.

ESG indicators help evaluate company performance and attract sustainable investments.

Challenges include low SME awareness, implementation costs, and regulatory gaps.

Opportunities include green financing, investor appeal, and climate goal contributions.

Academic research explores ESG adoption in Moroccan sectors like banking and energy.

Institutions like CGEM and universities promote ESG frameworks and sustainability.

ESG enhances transparency, risk management, and competitiveness internationally.

The integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards into Moroccan accounting practices is an emerging area of interest, influenced by regulatory, academic, and international developments. Here's a synthesized overview of the research and current landscape:

### 1. **Regulatory Environment and National Initiatives**

- **Renewable Energy Commitments**: Morocco's Noor Solar Plant and renewable energy targets under the National Energy Strategy reflect environmental commitments, potentially driving ESG reporting in sectors like energy.

- **Plan Maroc Vert**: This agricultural strategy promotes sustainability, though explicit links to ESG accounting practices are less documented. It may encourage environmental reporting in agribusiness.

- **Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC)**: Requires listed companies to disclose ESG risks in annual reports since 2016, though enforcement and depth of reporting remain areas for study.

### 2. **Academic Research**

- **Moroccan Institutions**: Universities like Université Mohammed V and ESG-focused business schools (e.g., HEM Business School) have explored CSR and sustainability. Specific studies on ESG accounting integration are limited but growing.

- **Themes in Literature**: Research often highlights barriers such as lack of awareness, regulatory gaps, and the need for capacity-building in ESG reporting. Studies may focus on sectors like banking, where ESG risk management is prioritized.

### 3. **Professional Accounting Bodies**

- **Ordre des Experts-Comptables du Maroc (OEC)**: Promotes CSR and sustainability but has yet to issue formal ESG accounting guidelines. Collaborations with international bodies (e.g., IFAC) may spur future frameworks.

### 4. **International Influence**

- **EU Trade Agreements**: Moroccan exporters face pressure to align with EU directives like the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), creating cross-border ESG reporting incentives.

- **Global Standards**: Adoption of IFRS and potential convergence with ISSB standards could accelerate ESG integration, though research on this is nascent.

### 5. **Industry-Specific Practices**

- **Energy Sector**: Renewable projects (e.g., Noor Ouarzazate) showcase environmental reporting, but holistic ESG integration in financial accounts is underexplored.

- **Banking and Finance**: Attijariwafa Bank and BMCE Bank have published CSR reports, though alignment with accounting standards remains unclear.

### 6. **Challenges and Gaps**

- **SMEs**: Limited resources and expertise hinder ESG adoption.

- **Regulatory Fragmentation**: Lack of standardized local frameworks compared to EU or global benchmarks.

- **Language and Accessibility**: Research in French/Arabic may be underrepresented in international databases.

### Key Sources for Further Exploration:

- **Academic Databases**: Search terms like "ESG Morocco accounting," "durabilité Maroc comptabilité," or "CSR reporting Morocco" on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and CASABIO (Moroccan publications).

- **Reports**: UNDP Morocco’s SDG reviews, World Bank assessments on Moroccan sustainability, and AMMC annual reports.

- **Case Studies**: Industry-specific analyses in energy, agriculture, and finance sectors.

### Conclusion:

While direct research on ESG integration in Moroccan accounting is limited, adjacent areas (regulatory shifts, CSR, and international trade) suggest growing interest. Future studies may focus on standardizing frameworks, enhancing SME capacity, and measuring the financial impact of ESG disclosures. Collaboration between academia, policymakers, and professional bodies will be critical to advancing this field.