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Ammon News - The UK’s COP26 Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and Africa, Janet Rogan, visited Amman on 21-23 September to discuss Jordan’s vital role in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). COP26 will be held in Glasgow in early November this year.

Ambassador Rogan met the Minister of Environment HE Nabil Masarweh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, HE Hala Al –Zawati and Minister of Water and Irrigation HE Mohammad Al Najjar. She also met leaders from business, environmental civil society groups, academia and the international community. With less than six weeks to go to the COP26 Climate Change Conference, the ambassador discussed Jordan’s role in the COP26, essential climate change initiatives and welcomed Jordan’s commitments to reduce its greenhouse and carbon emissions through the government’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution. Ambassador Rogan urged the Jordanian government to submit its NDC by the end of September and to send a strong delegation to COP26.

The ambassador and the ministers discussed the importance of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NAP), Long Term Strategies setting out pathways for renewable energy, adaptation priorities and climate change implementation plans. In her meetings with business and civil society groups, the ambassador discussed the opportunities for mobilising finance to tackle climate change, jobs and growth offered by the transition to renewable energy and the role of civil society in tackling climate change.

The ambassador also highlighted progress as Jordan joined the Adaptation Action Coalition to address the impacts of climate change and the Global Ocean Alliance, a collective of countries that are advocating to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. She welcomed Jordan's commitment to meeting its Long Term Strategies; The National Climate Change Adaptation Plan and National Green Growth Plan (NGGP).

Commenting on these meetings and her first official visit to Jordan, Ambassador Rogan said:
“The impact that climate change is already having on Jordan is clear and is affecting the economy, food and water security. The negative impacts of climate change will escalate unless we all act now to try and limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees centigrade.

Ahead of the COP 26 summit in November, every country will make commitments to protect our planet. I welcome Jordan’s progress with ambitious commitments to cut emissions and hope that Jordan’s delegation will raise its voice to ensure it is heard on its adaption needs.”