Dead Sea, Feb 7 (Petra) - Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman affirmed that climate action in Jordan is no longer merely an environmental option but has become an integrated national pathway linked to economic development and social justice, based on a participatory approach that ensures fair distribution of burdens and benefits and strengthens the resilience of sectors and communities.
Speaking on Saturday while sponsoring the closing session of the "Justice Dialogues" series, held at the Mövenpick Hotel–Dead Sea and organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)'s Regional Competence Center for Energy and Climate Justice MENA, Suleiman said that Jordan’s National Climate Change Policy, National Adaptation Plan, and the third version of its Nationally Determined Contributions constitute clear strategic frameworks guiding climate action on scientific and participatory foundations.
He noted that aligning international commitments with national priorities helps attract funding and enhances implementation opportunities.
Suleiman pointed out that the Economic Modernization Vision, particularly its Green Growth pillar, represents a real opportunity to transition toward a more sustainable and resilient economy, stressing that implementing its executive program requires embedding principles of social justice, social responsibility, and just transition, while taking into account the conditions of workers, vulnerable groups, and local communities.
He added that Jordan has raised the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to about 30 percent, alongside expanding the use of electric and hybrid vehicles, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. He emphasized the importance of strengthening infrastructure readiness and cities’ capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, especially amid growing pressure on water resources and recurring droughts.
He also noted that the sectors discussed in the dialogues energy, agriculture, industry, and tourism constitute key pillars for implementing the Economic Modernization Vision, as they provide green jobs, support food security, and promote economic growth and sustainable local development.
For her part, Executive Director of FES's Regional Competence Center for Energy and Climate Justice Dina Kisbi said the closing session marked the culmination of a series of national dialogues that addressed the concept of just transition and linked it to people’s livelihoods and future prospects.
She explained that the dialogues, involving representatives of labor unions, employers, civil society organizations, and researchers, focused on the energy, agriculture, tourism, and industry sectors within a participatory framework that facilitated the exchange of views and identification of shared priorities.
Kisbi stressed that a just transition is not merely a technical or environmental process but a social, economic, and rights-based pathway grounded in fairness, decent work, social protection, and active participation. She called for translating the dialogue outcomes into policies and executive plans that ensure no group is marginalized.
The session featured presentations of sectoral dialogue outcomes and in-depth discussions on mechanisms for converting recommendations into practical programs and plans in support of national efforts to achieve a fair and balanced transition that reconciles economic growth with environmental protection and social justice.
//Petra// AF
