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Ammon News - The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has inaugurated its new solar-energy system at its premises in Jordan.

With its launch, the system is expected to enhance business continuity and reduce the climate impacts of FAO Jordan, all while decreasing energy costs and promoting sustainable development in the region, said a FAO statement.

Environment Minister Muawieh Radaideh, Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Amani Al Azzam, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa AbdulHakim Elwaer, Director of Logistics Services Division Rodrigo de Lapuerta attended the event.

In line with FAO’s Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy (CER) 2020-2030, the CER team of CSLI, the FAO Jordan office, and the UNDP Green Energy Team pave the way towards a low carbon FAO with this 13kWp grid-tied solar PV system installation, the statement said.

The system will be able to cover approximately 50 per cent of the office’s electricity consumption and save approximately 11 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

Radaideh said: “Today’s celebration goes beyond installing a solar energy system to having supporters to deliver the message that energy efficiency is key.”

Azzam congratulated and valued the commitment of FAO Jordan towards a green future.

Elwaer said: “FAO Jordan is one of the first FAO offices in the region that turned to solar energy to power its operations with the installation of a Solar PV system, in a remarkable effort to curb its carbon footprint.”

FAO’s Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf said: “With energy efficiency initiatives that will increase the sustainability of our facilities, FAO Jordan is paving the way towards the 45 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, as stipulated by the FAO Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2020-2030.”

De Lapuerta said: “This system is the product of a lot of hard work and collaboration between the FAO Jordan office and UNDP and FAO teams. The principles that have defined this project, namely teamwork, determination, a passion for environmental issues, are the foundations that FAO use to walk the talk, and will be the crucial drivers for the attainment of the SDGs, as well as the fight against climate change”.

Switching to renewable energy has strong environmental incentives, namely saving CO2 emissions, effectively reducing the carbon footprint and the environmental burden. This supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while also promoting green energy solutions and inspiring local communities to adopt similar solutions, concluded the statement.