Jordan pledges 14% cut in greenhouse gas emissions

AMMAN — Jordan has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 14 per cent by 2030 and to double the proportion of renewable energy in the total energy mix by 2020, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of the High Level Segment meeting at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), Environment Minister Taher Shakhshir said climate change impacts every living creature on the planet.

Shakhshir highlighted the impact of regional unrest and the ongoing refugee crisis on Jordan, coupled with difficult economic conditions, noting that these conditions make it difficult to focus on safeguarding the environment in the region.

Nevertheless, he said, Jordan is committed to the global Sustainable Development Goals, which cover the period 2015-2025, by working to merge its economic goals with them, focusing on the concepts of green economy, gender equality, human rights and education.

The minister noted that Jordan was the first country in the region to produce a National Climate Change Policy, under which it can reduce its greenhouse emissions by 14 per cent, provided that international funding is provided to enable the Kingdom to reduce 12.5 per cent of that total percentage.

Jordan will commit to covering the cost of reducing emissions by 1.5 per cent, he added.

Shakhshir also highlighted the private sector’s role in increasing dependence on renewable energy, noting that the adoption of solar and wind energy is aimed at protecting the planet and supporting Jordan’s economy.

He stressed the need to reach fair and binding commitments for all participants in COP21, which concludes on December 11, to reduce greenhouse emissions, which is a collective effort that cannot be undertaken by one country on its own.

In remarks at the opening of the conference last Monday, His Majesty King Abdullah said climate change cannot be addressed in isolation.

“No geographical region, no economic sector can protect itself from the impact of global threats,” the King said.

“If global climate change continues on today’s trajectory, the challenges will increase exponentially. These harsh realities are why Jordan has been integrating energy and environmental approaches into a sustainable, long-term national development strategy,” he added.