Environment Minister Ayman Suleiman said Jordan is well-positioned to become a regional hub for climate finance and cooperation among Mediterranean countries, stressing the importance of strengthening regional and international partnerships to secure the necessary funding and turn climate priorities into viable investment projects.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking at the opening of the Mediterranean Pavilion at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in the Turkish city of Antalya, Suleiman said countries need support to translate their priorities into well-prepared investment projects. He noted that Jordan values existing partnerships and believes it can play a regional role in climate finance and cooperation with Mediterranean countries.
The minister stressed the importance of placing climate change adaptation and strengthening resilience in the water sector at the forefront of Mediterranean cooperation priorities. This should be achieved by strengthening the links between water, energy, food and ecosystems to address shared risks.
In this context, he highlighted Jordan’s National Water Carrier Project, which is expected to provide 300 million cubic metres of drinking water annually starting in 2031.
Suleiman explained that the Mediterranean region is among the areas most affected by climate change, with temperatures rising at a rate 20% faster than the global average, according to scientific reports.
He noted that the region faces several climate-related challenges, including declining rainfall, water scarcity, increasingly frequent droughts, reduced agricultural productivity, food shortages and a rise in extreme weather events, including heatwaves and flash floods.
These challenges are being exacerbated by rapid population growth resulting from regional crises and large influxes of refugees from neighbouring countries.
Green Transition and Job Opportunities
Suleiman stressed the need to make the green transition an opportunity for inclusive economic prosperity, explaining that circular economy solutions, clean energy and a sustainable blue economy could help strengthen resource security and create job opportunities.
He noted that Jordan contributes to regional climate cooperation through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), the 2050 Circular Economy Roadmap, and efforts to update its six sectoral National Green Growth Action Plans for 2028–2033.
He also emphasized that Jordan has extensive experience and a successful track record in implementing regional projects, including initiatives carried out under the Union for the Mediterranean and programmes funded by the European Union, such as ENPI, ENI and the current Interreg programme.
He said these programmes should help advance climate action on the ground and transform regional cooperation into tangible measures and results that benefit local communities.
Jordan Calls for Climate Commitments to Become Projects
Suleiman said Jordan, as co-presidency partner of the Union for the Mediterranean alongside the European Union, is committed to bringing the region’s priorities and solutions into global climate discussions.
He added that the Mediterranean Pavilion offers member states an important opportunity to present the region’s challenges and solutions to the international community and work towards turning those solutions into concrete action.
He explained that the pavilion’s theme, “From Dialogue to Action,” reflects what the region needs from COP31: partnerships that strengthen implementation and deliver tangible results for its people.
Suleiman called for making use of the Mediterranean Pavilion to connect knowledge with policies, priorities with partnerships, and ideas with investments, contributing to the development of a more resilient, peaceful and prosperous Mediterranean region.
At the beginning of his speech, the minister thanked the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean and the partners organizing the pavilion, as well as Türkiye for hosting the United Nations climate conference on the shores of the Mediterranean.
