Ammon News -

The UK’s COP26 Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and Africa, Janet Rogan, visited Amman on 22-26 May to discuss Jordan’s follow up to COP 26 and plans for COP 27 due to take place in Egypt in November 2022.

Ambassador Rogan met the Minister of Environment HE Muaweih Radadeih, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Shraideh and senior officials at the Royal Hashemite Court. She also met with youth climate ambassadors and visited the site of a planned waste-water plant in Irbid, speaking with stakeholders to understand the importance of the project. Ambassador Rogan attended the Global Land Conference at the Dead Sea to discuss the importance of adaptation to climate smart agriculture and building resilience which will be core themes at COP27.

Ambassador Rogan discussed implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution, the progress of the National Adaptation Plan and Jordan’s preparations ahead of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 in Kunming and UNFCCC COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. In her meetings with stakeholders and officials in Irbid, Ambassador Rogan discussed the need for water adaptation at the local level and the role of the community in promoting water efficiency. In a roundtable discussion with students and early career researchers, Ms Rogan encouraged students and researchers to bring innovations to climate adaptation solutions

Commenting on these meetings and her follow up visit to Jordan, Ambassador Rogan said:
“COP 26 was significant because the world moved from discussion of the details of the Paris Agreement into implementation. Jordan submitted a strengthened Nationally Determined Contribution and is now moving to implement the National Adaptation Plan. Managing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and other industrial and economic activities requires collaborative effort between government, private sector and consumers. Adapting to climate-resilient agriculture, water and energy systems can help create green jobs and strengthen the ability of people living in Jordan to cope with future crises.

The UK is committed to supporting Jordan to adapt to the climate impacts already being experienced. Our regional programme in partnership with EBRD is supporting people in West Irbid through provision of climate-adapted waste water facilities in West Irbid. We will continue to look at ways to support climate adaptation action in Jordan.

COP26 concluded in November 2021 with 197 Parties agreeing the Glasgow Climate Pact, reaching consensus on the need for urgent climate action. With it, we have narrowed the ambition gap, as net zero commitments cover 90% of the world’s economy - up from 30% two years ago, when the UK took on the COP26 Presidency.