Stockholm +50 Conference session recommends setting environmental priorities

AMMAN — The second National Consultation Session of the Stockholm +50 Conference on Tuesday submitted recommendations for setting environmental priorities.

Sponsored by Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the workshop, which was organised by the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme, aimed to provide clear recommendations on national and sectoral priorities promoting the concepts of climate change and environmental sustainability.

The second session that was held in Aqaba, brought together researchers, environmentalists and representatives from various public, private and civil society institutions.

The first national workshop for the Stockholm +50 conference, with the support of the Swedish and Kenyan governments, was held at the end of March.

The series of sessions will open up the possibility of starting a national dialogue process concerning the environment, said Head of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction at UNDP Nidal Oran during the second session on Tuesday.

Oran pointed out that “the national consultation workshops come at a key time for addressing COVID-related challenges, climate change and environmental deterioration”.

He added that “this type of dialogue should not stop, rather it should become a sustained approach”.

Maha Maaytah, director of policies and international cooperation at the Environment Ministry, said: “All plans and strategies should be implemented in a complementary and participatory manner.”

Talking about the Kingdom’s position within the main themes of the conference, Maaytah noted that Jordan has signed several agreements in the field of waste management, environment preservation, and marine environment protection.

The Environment Ministry has made many efforts relating to climate change and green growth, she added.

Stockholm+50 is an international meeting convened by the United Nations General Assembly, that is set to be held on June 2-3,  2022, commemorating the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and celebrating 50 years of global environmental action.

The meeting will be held under the theme “Stockholm+50: A healthy planet for the prosperity of all — our responsibility, our opportunity,” according to the Stockholm+50 website.