14 May 2013: With support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Jordan had launched a national policy on climate change. The long-term goal of the Climate Change Policy and Sector Strategic Guidance Framework of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is to build a climate risk-resilient country with a low-carbon but growing economy.

The Policy, which is a first for both Jordan and the Middle East, aims to strengthen Jordan’s capacity to respond to the detrimental impacts of climate change, especially in the water and agriculture sectors, and to strengthen Jordan’s global stewardship in addressing options to reduce emissions while achieving sound and sustainable developmental objectives, especially in the energy sector.

The objective of the Policy (2013-2020) is to build the adaptive capacity of communities and institutions in Jordan, with consideration for gender, and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. It focuses on the resilience of natural ecosystems and water, as well as agricultural resources to climate change, and aims to optimize mitigation opportunities. The national priorities and pillars of the Policy are adaptation to climate change and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with an emphasis on adaptation.

The Policy was developed through a national consultation process led by the Ministry of Environment in cooperation with the National Energy Research Center and UNDP, as part of the “Developing policy-relevant capacity for implementation of the Global Environmental Conventions in Jordan (CB2)”project. [UNDP Press Release] [Workshop Agenda] [Publication: The National Climate Change Policy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 2013-2020]