Amman, July 23 (Petra)-- Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman said on Thursday that keeping pace with updates to environmental management systems and implementing international standards are essential to enhancing the efficiency of national institutions and advancing sustainable development.

Speaking at a national workshop on the upcoming ISO 14001:2026 Environmental Management Systems standard, Suleiman stressed that the Ministry of Environment remains committed to building national capacities and strengthening partnerships with the public and private sectors to promote environmental compliance and continuous improvement, in line with Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision and national sustainability and climate priorities.

The workshop was organized by Ithmar Foundation for Development and Training in cooperation with Global Standards, bringing together representatives from government institutions, the private sector, and environmental management experts.

Suleiman said investing in the development of national expertise and knowledge transfer is a key pillar for improving the environmental performance of institutions, enabling them to keep pace with global developments while enhancing their competitiveness and compliance with international environmental standards.

He also praised the efforts of Ithmar Foundation and Global Standards for organizing the event and commended participants for their strong engagement and commitment to expanding their expertise in environmental management.

The workshop focused on the anticipated updates to the ISO 14001:2026 standard, the world's leading framework for environmental management systems, aiming to help organizations prepare for the transition to the new edition while ensuring continued compliance, improved environmental performance, and greater competitiveness for Jordanian institutions at the local, regional, and international levels.

Technical sessions covered global developments in environmental management systems, the key changes introduced in the new standard, transition requirements and implementation mechanisms, the integration of climate change considerations and environmental risk management into management systems, as well as international best practices and the challenges organizations may face during the transition.

The event was attended by 35 employees from the Ministry of Environment representing various technical and administrative departments, in addition to representatives from 20 Jordanian industrial companies certified under ISO 14001, underscoring the workshop's role as a national platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration between government agencies and the industrial sector.

At the conclusion of the workshop, Suleiman presented LSQA USA-accredited certificates to participants in recognition of their successful completion of the training, emphasizing the importance of continuing such specialized programs to enhance the capabilities of Jordanian professionals, improve institutional environmental performance, and strengthen sustainability and compliance with international standards.

The Ministry of Environment, in partnership with Ithmar Foundation for Development and Training and Global Standards, also announced a series of specialized training programs under the ministry's umbrella covering both ISO 14001 and ISO 14064 standards.

The initiative aims to equip engineers and companies with the skills to implement international best practices in environmental management while building expertise in ISO 14064, the international standard for greenhouse gas emissions quantification, reporting, and verification. The programs are intended to enhance transparency, support institutions in reducing their carbon footprint, ensure compliance with international requirements, and improve their competitiveness in domestic and global markets.

//Petra// MF