* Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is leading efforts to increase public transport usage to 30% by 2030.
* Automation of 134 municipal services has reduced in-person visits from 18 million annually to just 270,000.
* A circular economy approach is guiding plans to restructure waste management in Amman.
A second Voluntary Local Review (VLR) for Amman has found that urban transport development, infrastructure modernization, digital transformation, innovation, improved water and waste management, and climate action are among the key pillars supporting the capital’s journey toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The review, conducted by the Greater Amman Municipality in cooperation with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and UN-Habitat, highlighted these sectors as essential for improving quality of life, promoting economic growth, and strengthening the city’s resilience to urban expansion and climate change.
According to the report, the current phase of development goes beyond implementing isolated projects. Instead, it focuses on building an integrated urban system that combines urban planning, sustainable transport, digital transformation, innovation, and smart resource management to deliver more efficient and equitable services while enhancing the city’s ability to adapt to future challenges.
The report noted significant progress in the legislative framework for urban development following the adoption of Jordan’s National Urban Policy and the approval of Amman’s 2025 Planning and Zoning Regulation. The framework links economic, social, and environmental development objectives with urban expansion needs, aiming to accommodate population growth, promote balanced urban development, and support climate adaptation.
Sustainable Transport at the Forefront of Urban Transformation
The report emphasized that public transportation is one of the most important tools for improving quality of life and reducing emissions.
It noted that Amman’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network has become the backbone of low-emission transport in the city, operating alongside the Amman Bus system, fleet modernization initiatives, and the introduction of electric buses.
The city aims to increase the share of public transport in daily trips from 13% in 2017 to 30% by 2030 by reducing reliance on private vehicles, improving access to jobs and services, and lowering traffic accidents and emissions.
The report also highlighted the growing use of intelligent traffic systems. The Traffic Control Center manages adaptive traffic signals that monitor traffic flow in real time and utilize artificial intelligence technologies to detect violations and improve traffic movement.
Pedestrian infrastructure has also been upgraded through safer sidewalks and crossings, particularly around BRT stations.
Road safety indicators have improved as well, with traffic-related fatalities declining from 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018 to 3.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2023.
Digital Transformation and Innovation
The report identified digital transformation as one of the most significant aspects of institutional development within Greater Amman Municipality.
The automation of 134 municipal services reduced the number of in-person visits from approximately 18 million annually to just 270,000, significantly improving service efficiency and accessibility, particularly for women and individuals facing mobility challenges.
The report also noted that innovation remains a key driver of economic growth, although stronger links between universities and the private sector are still needed to convert research outcomes into marketable products.
Patent activity remains relatively low at 0.14 applications per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, mobile internet coverage has reached 99%, compared with only 3.9% for fixed broadband services, underscoring the need for further digital infrastructure development.
Water Management, Waste Management, and Climate Action
The review stressed that urban water management remains one of the city’s top priorities due to increasing pressure on water resources.
Efforts focus on improving water-use efficiency, reducing losses, expanding rainwater harvesting, and implementing sustainable urban drainage solutions.
Waste management reform is also considered a priority, with plans to transition toward a circular economy model through improved collection systems, greater source separation, expanded recycling, reduced landfill disposal, increased use of digital solutions, and stronger private-sector participation.
Climate action has become integrated into all urban policies through the incorporation of emissions-reduction and climate-adaptation goals into transportation, energy, infrastructure, and urban planning projects.
The city is also expanding clean energy initiatives, improving energy efficiency, increasing urban greening, and investing in green infrastructure.
Quality of Life at the Heart of Development
The report linked air quality to public health, noting that expanding low-emission public transportation is one of the most effective tools for reducing pollution.
It also tracks concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to assess the impact of transportation and energy policies on air quality.
The review recorded improvements in hospital capacity and reported that vaccination coverage among children under five years old has reached 99%.
It emphasized that improving quality of life also involves ensuring equitable access to services, reducing disparities between neighborhoods, and strengthening public participation in planning processes, with particular attention to women, youth, persons with disabilities, refugees, and other vulnerable groups, in line with the principle of “leaving no one behind.”
The report concluded that Amman is adopting an integrated approach that links transportation, urban planning, digital transformation, resource management, climate action, and quality of life as interconnected elements of sustainable urban development.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the report stated, will require continued progress across all these sectors simultaneously, stronger partnerships, greater infrastructure investment, and expanded use of data and technology to build a more sustainable and resilient city.
Al Mamlaka
