Environment Minister Ayman Suleiman stressed that addressing climate change requires a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach and effective coordination between national institutions and local authorities to strengthen the ability of cities and communities to adapt to climate impacts and build more resilient and sustainable systems.
He made the remarks on Thursday during a high-level dialogue titled “Urban Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Action,” organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), being held in the Turkish city of Antalya.
Suleiman outlined Jordan’s efforts to prepare and adopt its updated third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which follows a comprehensive economic approach that integrates climate considerations into key sectors, including energy, transport, water, agriculture, waste management, human settlements and infrastructure.
He said the plan places particular emphasis on adaptation measures and strengthening urban resilience across its economic, social and environmental dimensions.
He explained that Jordan’s approach to tackling climate change is based on three main pillars: strengthening institutional coordination and integration among government entities while aligning efforts and priorities; adopting an integrated, cross-sectoral approach linking economic, social and environmental dimensions; and enhancing implementation through institutional capacity-building, improving data availability and its use in decision-making, and securing sustainable funding to support climate plans and measures.
Suleiman stressed that climate resilience cannot be achieved through national policies alone or through isolated local interventions. Rather, it requires an integrated coordination framework involving all sectoral institutions and local authorities, guided by a shared vision that defines responsibilities, aligns priorities and ensures complementary roles.
He noted that the challenge is no longer limited to identifying the climate measures required, but also involves developing institutional arrangements and implementation capacities that enable different entities to work together effectively and on a broad scale.
He emphasised the importance of moving from planning to implementation, strengthening partnerships and securing the necessary resources to ensure the sustainability of climate interventions.
Suleiman reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to continuing to develop its national approach to adaptation and resilience, while actively participating in international efforts to build cities and communities better equipped to address the consequences of climate change and achieve a sustainable future.
