Prince Hassan calls for holistic approach to climate challenges

AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan, chairman of the West Asia-North Africa (WANA) Institute, on Thursday attended a panel discussion on a national project seeking to empower local communities to design climate change adaptation plans.

Organised by WANA Institute, which is a non-profit policy think tank, the training programme on climate change adaptation aimed at building capacities in Irbid, Zarqa and Balqa to draft a climate change adaptation strategy. 

Prince Hassan said that Jordan and the Mashriq region need a holistic approach to addressing climate change problems, highlighting the need for a concise national plan within the three governorates to move from a categorisation approach to a holistic one that includes hosting and affected communities.  

The Prince also called for collaborative efforts among governors, public administrations, research centres, international organisations and qualified citizens to suggest sustainable solutions to climate change problems, explaining that the social contract is based on empowerment, authorisation and citizenship, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Prince also explained that realising the Sustainable Development Goals requires regional cooperation, especially those goals related to reducing hunger  and ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water. “It is necessary to admit that no state can solve its water issues alone,” the Prince said.

Dutch Ambassador to Jordan Barbara Joziasse said that all stakeholders should adapt to climate change and work towards finding solutions to its problems, underscoring the Dutch-Jordanian cooperation in this regard.