Amman, Sept. 30 (Petra) -- Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman discussed during a meeting Wednesday with Syrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment Mohammad Anjrani ways to enhance environmental cooperation between Jordan and Syria and develop joint coordination mechanisms to address environmental and climate challenges.

On the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs at the headquarters of the Arab League General Secretariat in Cairo, the two sides stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination between the two countries on a number of priority environmental issues, foremost among them the effects of climate change and drought, adaptation to water scarcity, combating desertification, and reducing dust and sandstorms, in addition to protecting and restoring ecosystems in shared border areas.

They also discussed ways to enhance Arab coordination to mobilize international support and financing for countries most affected by the effects of climate change and to enable national institutions to benefit from international climate funds, programs, and initiatives, contributing to enhancing capacities to adapt and respond to climate and environmental challenges.

Suleiman and Anjrani agreed to prepare a comprehensive memorandum of understanding between the Jordanian Ministry of Environment and the Syrian Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, in preparation for signing it on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), establishing a framework for cooperation and the exchange of expertise in sustainable water resource management, waste management, environmental monitoring, and adaptation to the effects of climate change.

Both sides stressed the importance of continued communication and coordination between relevant entities in the two countries and the development of joint programs and projects that contribute to reducing environmental and climate risks, enhancing sustainability, and supporting regional efforts to address the effects of climate change.

//Petra// AF