Despite the multiple hands dealt to Jordan in recent years (disrupted energy supplies, influxes of
refugees, and most recently, the coronavirus-induced economic slowdown) the
country is in a position to rewrite its development trajectory for the decade
to come.
اضافة اعلان
For once, we have an opportunity not only to advance short-term
priorities but to apply a long-term planning approach that recognizes climate
change as both a significant threat and — more importantly — an opportunity.
These dimensions become clearer once viewed
though a national security lens that underscores the role of climate change in
Jordan’s water, food, and
energy security.
Though we may have come
to accept the statement that “Jordan is the second-most water scarce country
globally,” this should not lull us into resigned inaction in building
resilience in this vital sector and turning the tables on this demoralizing
statistic.
The recently released Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change clearly highlights that the Mediterranean region, in which Jordan
falls, “will see increased droughts and fires, which will continue to affect
livelihoods, agriculture, water systems, and ecosystems,” in addition to more
intense storms.
This report has been dubbed a “code
red” for humanity, calling
for urgent action to implement significant cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions and invest in resilience measures to face the worsening impacts of
the climate already felt in many parts of the world.
Jordan, and in
particular its water sector, is no exception. The country faces “pre-existing
vulnerabilities due to conflicts, immigration, dependence on trans-boundary
river flows, and limited mitigation options,” according to the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
Though climate change is expected to put pressure
on an already water-stressed region, preemptive action today will reduce the
risk of “water wars” and climate migration in the future.
Therefore, investments to tackle water
loss, increase rainwater harvesting, implement innovative technologies, reuse
treated wastewater, adopt nature based solutions, and enhance transboundary cooperation among Arab
countries are an essential security driver for Jordan and the region.
Since the majority of
water consumption in Jordan is in agriculture, this makes it one of the most
“climate-sensitive” sectors of the economy.
At the same time, interventions in
the sector will have significant social ramifications, considering that a majority
of rural populations depend on this sector for their livelihoods.
This is
particularly important to highlight in the days following World Humanitarian
Day, August 19, where this year’s theme aims to raise the profile of vulnerable groups’ climate change adaptation, which
in Jordan includes underserved communities and refugees.
In the wake of
COVID-19, the country’s food security has risen to the top of the national
agenda, given its critical role in ensuring resilience to external shocks;
whether pandemics, regional conflicts, and increasingly, climate change.
It is
therefore quite timely that Jordan is advancing its Food Security and Nutrition Strategy, which is an opportunity to address the issue through
a climate and vulnerability lens.
As the third pillar of
the water, energy, and food nexus, the energy sector continues to be central to
Jordan’s economic development and fiscal positioning (noting that it represents
around 10 percent of GDP).
The latest Jordan Energy Strategy released by the Ministry of Energy
and Mineral Resources focuses on the self-reliance scenario, which aims to increase
dependence on national energy resources including more ambitious targets for
the contribution of renewable energy to the energy mix (14 percent by 2030).
Investing in clean, local resources will not only help Jordan meet its GHG
reduction targets under the Paris Agreement but will also increase the sector’s
resilience against future shocks including those that may be climate induced.
Therefore, adopting a
“green”, climate-responsive approach to recovery not only helps to position
Jordan as a climate leader the region (as outlined in my recent article),
but as a strategic approach that can strengthen the country’s water, energy,
and food security.
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