Rabat will inaugurate 10 major environmental protection projects this month when it becomes one of six world cities to lead celebrations for Earth Day, according to a Morocco official.

The Morocco capital will join Washington, New York, Shanghai, Rome and Mumbai as leading hosts of events between April 17 and 24 for the 40th anniversary of the event organised by the US-based Earth Day Network.

"To commemorate this day, Rabat will be an example on the world scale by inaugurating 10 long-range projects focused on the protection of the environment in the kingdom," said an official.

The projects will include pushing environmental education in schools and the establishment of a national observatory for environment and rural development, according a statement by Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi.

They will also aim to fight desertification, preserve ecosystems, treat waste and end the use of plastic bags.

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