The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a semi-arid country with distinctive natural features including valleys, mountain ranges and desert plateaus. The country has a rich array of wildlife protected in several nature reserves. But the climate crisis has exacerbated Jordan’s already harsh desert landscapes, causing natural habitats to decline significantly.
We sat down with Jordan’s Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment, Mohammed Al Khashashneh, to learn more about how the country is addressing a host of environmental challenges, from desertification to plastic pollution.
How is Jordan tackling key environmental challenges, such as the climate crisis?
Mohammed Al Khashashneh (MK): On the issue of the climate crisis, in 2021, we submitted our updated nationally determined contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to our 2016 submission, we increased our target of reducing emissions from 14 per cent to 31 per cent by 2030. This will only be possible through the implementation of projects that will be distributed across different sectors, such as energy, agriculture, water, transportation, tourism and waste management.
In addition, the National Climate Change Policy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 2022-2050 was launched prior to the United Nations Climate Conference COP 27. This policy aligns with Jordan’s national policies and sectoral strategies, especially the recently published Economic Modernization Vision. The document outlines Jordan’s forward-looking vision to transform into a resilient low-carbon nation, contributing to the global move towards becoming a carbon neutral planet by the middle of this century.
Jordan is considered one of the countries most affected by environmental changes, especially those caused by the climate crisis and the resulting drought, desertification and loss of arable lands. This is in addition to the successive waves of displaced persons and refugees that the kingdom witnessed over the past 70 years.
We have developed ambitious plans to address the climate crisis along with the international community, and are aiming to plant 10 million trees in the coming eight years. The area of nature reserves has also increased to more than five per cent of the kingdom's total area.
What is Jordan’s approach to addressing the growing problem of plastic pollution?
MK: Jordan is also reducing its plastic waste and taking plastic pollution very seriously. According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, plastic is the largest, most harmful and persistent form of marine litter, accounting for at least 85 per cent of total marine waste.
Whether in the ocean or on land, we believe that bold and historic decisions need to be taken on a global level. UNEP’s work on plastic pollution is important, and one of the ways to protect nature is to develop a specific international convention to encourage all parties to reduce the use of plastic and remove hazardous materials used in plastic manufacturing.
The fifth resumed UN Environment Assembly addressed important and historical decisions – one of them being the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee for action on plastic pollution. We fully support this because we believe this is a worldwide problem that needs urgent action. Jordan has also applied substantial measures to enhance the reduction of waste and to develop a waste hierarchy, where the government of Jordan issued a waste management framework law, in addition to much legislation that focused on environmentally sound management practices and investments in this sector.
Jordan contributes its full share to the Environment Fund, which is the bedrock for UNEP’s work worldwide. In what other areas is Jordan working with UNEP?
MK: We are proud of fulfilling our financial obligations to UNEP because we believe that doing so enables UNEP to perform its leadership role in environmental protection to the fullest. The UNEP Regional Office for West Asia is a strategic partner of Jordan. We have worked together for a long time on many projects, such as hazardous chemicals, the climate crisis, sustainable consumption and production, and global warming.
We look forward to furthering our cooperation with UNEP in developing and implementing more vital projects to preserve the environment on the regional and global level, especially increasing our partnership in science since we have excellent scientific institutions in place.
Does Jordan have a message to other countries on the environment?
MK: Every country should acknowledge that protecting the environment is a matter of high importance to humanity, especially when we see the repercussions of the climate crisis and the environmental disasters happening worldwide.
In the Middle East, we have seen many disastrous fires and floods. We call upon other states to take action to address pollution, be it air, marine or land pollution related to plastics and other solid waste, and encourage the adoption of green waste management.
The Environment Fund is the core source of flexible funds to UNEP. It provides the bedrock for the work worldwide as UNEP supports countries to deliver on the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste. To support the Environment Fund, each of the 193 Member States is encouraged to contribute their full share, as represented by the indicative scale of contributions, established in 2002 by the Member States themselves. The scale considers each country individually and distributes responsibility collectively. Investing in UNEP means investing in the health of the planet and its people.
