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Ammon News - Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh Tuesday took part in a session to launch the Climate Change Initiative in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean at the COP27 Climate Summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the presence of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

In an address he delivered in the presence of Environment Minister Muawiya Al-Radaydah and Jordanian Ambassador to Egypt Amjad Al-Adayleh, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for hosting the conference and Cyprus for "this important initiative", stressing Jordan's support of the initiative and executive plan.

The prime minister said the initiative comes at a critical time with an urgent need to promptly respond to the impact of climate change on our region, which faces major environmental challenges, stressing the importance of "taking this global momentum to work for our countries, the region and the world."

The climate change crisis in Jordan, he said, posed multiple economic, environmental and social challenges, as well as scarce resources and a sharp population increase due to political crises in the region and a large and sudden influx of refugees from neighboring countries.

He referred in this context to Jordan's initiative to launch interrelated climate and refugee initiatives to shine a light on the unique double challenges facing countries, climate change and population displacement.

The Prime Minister said Jordan is stepping up efforts towards environmentally and socially sustainable comprehensive green growth to address development challenges and achieve national ambitions and international commitments.

"Today is an important opportunity to underline collective action at the regional level to face common climate challenges, and for our voice in the region to be heard," he said, pointing out that environmental and climate challenges do not recognize borders, which necessitates regional cooperation to confront them.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of capacity building, technology transfer and exchange of expertise as key tools for cooperation, in addition to implementing joint ventures based on complementarity among the countries of the region.

He said comprehensive and sustainable growth is unachievable for all unless developed countries deliver on financial pledges to enable developing countries to deal with the environmental challenges that are rising day by day.