The ultimate purpose of the International Congress on Desert Economy – Dakhla, 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 and Sahara economy development, 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.

April 21st - 22nd  2020, Dakhla, Morocco. 

Argument

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 the share of electricity from renewable energies 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 least, the project to be implemented in the Sahara of the Dakhla region,  aiming to generate renewable and clean energy, from wind, this wind energy will be used in mining the cryptocurrencies based on Blockchain technology, such as the Bitcoin.

Submission guidelines

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to submit an abstract for presentations, as an oral communication, through the congress website: https://sahara-economy3.sciencesconf.org , within the framework of one of the themes of the congress,

before January 26, 2020.

Proposals must meet the scientific standards required in the Author guidelines section.

The participation in the Congress is free of charge. However, for a better organization, preliminary online registration is mandatory before Mars 31, 2020.

For PhD students, please bring your student ID card or your registration certificate...

For more information, please contact: E-mail:  economydesert@gmail.com or Tel: +212618086893

After evaluation by the Scientific Committee of the abstracts of communication projects, authors will be informed of the results, no later than January 31, 2020.

Full versions of the research papers must reach the Scientific Committee before Mars 10, 2020.

Practical information

The Congress will be held in Dakhla (southern Morocco) on April 21st - 22nd 2020. It is planned to publish the best papers presented in a scientific Journal and / or in a collective work. The languages of the Congress are: English, Arabic, French and Spanish.

Both, the two collective lunches and the collective dinner, as well as coffee breaks, during the days of the Congress, are offered in honor of the participants. Supplies and documentation such as satchels, notepads… are also available. The airport shuttle will be provided by the ENCG of Dakhla, for participants coming from Abroad.

Further information about the Congress, including information on Dakhla city, about cheaper hotels, will be available on our website: https://sahara-economy3.sciencesconf.org

Scientific committee

• Aziz Sair. Director of ENCG, Dakhla.
• Nasir El Bassam. Director of the International Renewable Energy Research Center. USA. Chairman of the World Renewable Energy Council, Germany.
• Kevin Cullinane. University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Heriberto Suárez. Institute of Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
• Khalid Benhammou. Director of  "Sahara Wind",  Morocco.
• Jinlong Ma. University of Melbourne, Australia, Tianjin University, China.
• Mustapha Naimi. University Institute of Scientific Research, Rabat.
• Houcine Khatteli. General Director of the Institute of Arid Regions, Tunisia.
• Hassan Ramou. IEA, Rabat.
• Khaled Sharbatly. “ Desert Technologies ”, Saudi Arabia.
• Lhasan Elmrani. President of the Center for Studies and Development of Oasis and Desert Territories. Errachidia.
• Julius Gatune. The African Center for Economic Transformation, South Africa.
• Aicha Oujaa. National Institute of Sciences of Archeology and Heritage, Rabat.
• Aimad Elhajri. FSJES, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech.
• Youssef Errami. Director of ESC Pau Business School, France.
• Badia Oulhadj. ENCG, Settat.
• Blanca Miedes Ugarte. University of Huelva, Spain.
• Tor Arne Gjertsen. The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.
• Abdelouahed Ben-Ncer. Director of the National Institute of Archeology and Heritage.
• Celestin Christian Tsala Tsala. University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
• Ouafae Ouariti Zerouali. ENCG, Agadir.
• Mohamed Ben Moussa. Director of the ENCG, Marrakech.
• Abderrahim Rharib. ENCG, Casablanca.
• Lanouar Charfeddine. University of Qatar, Qatar.
• Asmae Bouaouinate. FLSH, Mohammedia.
• Hamid Nechad. ENCG, Tangier.
• Fatima Zahra Achour. FSJES, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra.
• Jamila Saidi. FLSH, Mohammedia.
• Oumhani Eddelani. FSJES, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez.
• Mounir Jerry. FSJES, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra.
• Seedou Mukhtar Sonko. Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor, Senegal.
• Kaoutar Roussi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Hassane Amaazoul. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Hajar El Moukhi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Fadoua Lemsagued. ENCG, Dakhla.
•  Lahoucine Assellam. ENCG, Dakhla.
•  Mohammed El Amrani. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Chahida El Idrissi. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Asmae El Hidani. ENCG, Dakhla.
• Sheikh Mohamed Maoulainine. Regional Director of the High Planning Commission, Dakhla.
• Abdellah El Boussadi. ENCG, Casablanca.
• Abdelkarim Asdiou. ENCG, Casablanca.
• Abdelhadi Ewague. FLSH, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida.
• Elouali Aailal. ENCG, Dakhla.