UPDATED SUBMISSION OF JORDAN’S

1 s t NATIONALLY DETERMINED
CONTRIBUTION (NDC)

October 2021

(Updated version)
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Executive summary

This submission is in response to paragraphs 24 and 25 of decision 1/CP.21 with direct

commitment to communicate or update its nationally determined contribution (NDC).
Jordan has included in this document accompanying information to facilitate clarity,
transparency and understanding (ICTU) of its NDC in compliance with Decision 4/CMA.1.

Jordan's updated 1st Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) document enhances its
commitment to the international climate change governance system by raising its
macroeconomic GHG emission reduction target from 14% in the 1 st NDC to 31% in this
current updated NDC, both compared to Business As Usual (BAU) scenario. The new
GHG emission reduction target is based on a combination of national policies,
programmes and actions as well as international support and finance. The adaptation
vision and objective of the updated NDC is directly linked to the recently launched
National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

This updated NDC aims at driving Jordan's post COVID-19 recovery process into a lower
Carbon and more Climate resilient development pathway steered by national green
growth priorities while fully committing to the provisions of the UNFCCC and the Paris
Agreement and paving the way for a future Climate Change Long Term Strategy (LTS).
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Contents
Executive summary .................................................................................................................................... 2
1. National Circumstances ..................................................................................................................... 5

1.1. Location and geography .............................................................................................................. 5

1.2. Political and Governance Structure .......................................................................................... 5
1.3. Demographic and social challenges ........................................................................................ 6

1.4. Economic Structure ...................................................................................................................... 6

1.5. Development sectors and challenges ...................................................................................... 7
1.6. Status of climate related development sectors ..................................................................... 8
1.7. Future Economic and development perspectives .............................................................. 11
1.8. GHG emissions Profile (inventory, sectors and methodologies). .................................. 12

1.9. Climate change impacts and Vulnerability ........................................................................... 15

2. Enabling factors for Climate Action ................................................................................................ 16

2.1 Governance and Institutional Arrangements ............................................................................... 16

2.2 Mainstreaming NDCs in national and local planning ................................................................. 16

2.3 NDC and Long term climate Strategy ............................................................................................ 18

2.4 Jordan’s Sustainable Development Goals ................................................................................... 18
2.5 Government Indicative Executive Program (GIEP) (2021-2024).............................................. 19
2.6 National Green Growth Plan (NGGP) ............................................................................................. 19
2.7 NDC-Partnership Support ................................................................................................................. 20
2.8 Private Sector engagement .............................................................................................................. 21

2.9 Gender Mainstreaming in NDC implementation .......................................................................... 21

2.10 Targeting vulnerable groups in NDC implementation ............................................................. 22
3. GHG Mitigation ...................................................................................................................................... 24

Emerging Opportunities in GHG Mitigation Policies and Technologies ......................... 29

4. Adaptation ............................................................................................................................................. 32

4.1 Water Resource Management .................................................................................................. 33

4.1.1 Integrating Climate adaptation and resilience in policy and institutional reforms
in the water sector ......................................................................................................................... 34
4.1.2 Improved water demand management and reducing gap between water demand
and supply ....................................................................................................................................... 34
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4.1.3 Improving adaptive capacity of water utilities ............................................................. 35

4.1.4 Improved efficiency in water use for sustainable development .............................. 35
4.1.5 Improving contribution of non-conventional water resources to the national
water budget .................................................................................................................................... 36
4.1.6 Improving rainfall early warning systems and reducing flood risks ...................... 36
4.1.7 Supporting watershed and basin level management of water resources
including transboundary water .................................................................................................. 37
4.2 Agriculture and Food security.................................................................................................. 38

4.2.1 Integrating Climate resilience in the policy and institutional reforms in

agricultural sector .......................................................................................................................... 38
4.2.2 Improving drought management systems .................................................................... 38
4.2.3 Improving irrigation system efficiency........................................................................... 39
4.2.4 Shifting to water efficient crops ....................................................................................... 39
4.2.5 Supporting hydroponic and other water tolerant agricultural productivity
systems............................................................................................................................................. 40
4.2.6 Enhancing productivity of rangeland management.................................................... 40
4.2.7 Improving sustainable productivity of food chains .................................................... 40
4.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystems .......................................................................................................... 41
4.4 Health ..................................................................................................................................................... 44
4.5 Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction .......................................................................... 46
4.6 Coastal Zone Management ............................................................................................................... 48
4.7 Cultural Heritage and Tourism......................................................................................................... 50
5. Synergies and Co-benefits .................................................................................................................. 54
6. Monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV) ....................................................................... 55
7. Means of Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 57

7.1 Capacity building ................................................................................................................................ 58

7.2 Technology transfer ........................................................................................................................... 59
7.3 Finance................................................................................................................................................... 59
8. Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU) ...................................... 61
9. Annexes ................................................................................................................................................. 71
Annex 1: Description of proposed Mitigation Actions .......................................................................... 72
Annex 2: Proposed Investment Plan for Adaptation projects .............................................................. 75
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1. National Circumstances
1.1. Location and geography
Jordan is strategically located in the Middle East acting as a connection between Asia,
Africa and Europe. The country has an area of 89,318 square kilometers with a diverse
terrain and landscape with approximately 75% of that space being taken up by desert.

Jordan can be divided into three main geographic and climatic areas; the Jordan
Valley, the Mountain Heights Plateau and the Eastern Desert or Badia region. The
Jordan Valley which extends down the entire western side of Jordan to the Dead Sea,
known in Arabic as the Ghor, is the most fertile region in the country. It is several
degrees warmer than the rest of the country with a year-round agricultural climate,
high-winter rainfall, and extensive summer irrigation which makes the Ghor to be the
food basket of Jordan.

The mountain heights Plateau is the highlands that extends through the entire length
of the western part of the country and separates the Jordan valley and its margins
from the plains of the eastern desert. This region receives the highest rainfall and is
the most richly vegetated in the country. It hosts most of Jordan’s population centers,
including the Capital City of Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Madaba and Karak.

Jordan’s climate is characterized by long, hot, and dry summers and short, cool
winters. The climate is influenced by the country’s location between the aridity of the
Arabian Desert and the humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. The eastern
Desert or Badia which is part of what is known as the North Arab Desert receives the
minimal rainfall throughout the year, averaging less than 50 millimeters annually. The
climate in the Badia varies widely between day and night, and between summer and
winter. Daytime summer temperatures may exceed 40°C, while winter nights can be
very cold, dry and windy.

1.2. Political and Governance Structure

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a representative
government. Jordan is divided into twelve administrative areas or Governorates
(Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Balqa, Karak, Mafraq, Ma'an, Tafiela, Jerash, Madaba, Ajloun,
and Aqaba). Each Governorate is managed through a decentralization and local
administration system that is directly supervised by the Ministries of Local
Administration and Interior Affairs.
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1.3. Demographic and social challenges

Jordan's total population was 10,554,000 inhabitants by the end of 2019, unevenly
distributed in the country with 90.3% residing in urban areas and 9.7% in rural areas. The
total population constitutes of 53% males and 47% females. The breakdown of Jordan
population by age shows the structure of a youthful population as the age category of 0-
19 years old represents 44.3% and the workforce category 20-59 years old represents
50.3% out of the total population

The population growth rate was a varying number in the last decade particularly after the
Iraqi and Syrian crisis, which triggered unprecedented influxes of refugees. Where the
population growth rate for the years (1994-2004) was 2.6% while the number had sharply
increased for the years (2004-2015) to be 5.3%. According to the Department of Statistics
in year 2015, Jordan hosted 1.3 million of Syrians, of which only 664,226 are registered
refugees with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2019).
About 20% of them are living in the camps, while the rest are living in the urban areas of
the country distributing between cities and towns, benefiting from the available
infrastructure and basic services delivered by the government and causing an extra
stresses on the already limited natural-resources. After almost ten years of the Syrian
crisis, Jordan still serves the refugees to meeting their humanitarian and resilience needs
for which the government estimates the budgetary cost of hosting the Syrian population
at around US$1.4 billion per annum.

1.4. Economic Structure

Over the past decade, Jordan’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 2.4 percent.
However, job creation has not been strong enough to meet the needs of the country’s
fast-growing working age population that grew at an average annual rate of 4.5 percent
over the decade owing to the large influx of refugees, mainly from Iraq and Syria.

Jordan has been affected by the adverse regional and global political and economic
crises. Starting from the global financial crisis in 2009, then the Iraqi and Syrian conflicts
which disrupted the trade routes, accompanied with the disruption of favorably-priced
natural gas supplies from Egypt in 2011. Then the depressed oil prices in 2014 which
caused a slowdown the Gulf countries’ economy which indirectly affected the Jordan’s
economy due to the decrease in remittances. The most recent COVID-19 pandemic which
has made the fragile macroeconomic situation worse and increased the country’s
vulnerability to shocks. The pandemic has hit the country’s economy hard and caused an
increase in the unemployment rate to reach 24.7% in the fourth quarter of 2020 rising
from 19% in the fourth quarter of 2019, while the highest unemployment rate was
recorded for the age category (20-24 years) to be 47.9% rising from 39.7% for the fourth
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quarter of 2020 and 2019 respectively. By end of 2020 exports decreased by 11.1% while
imports decreased by 13.0%.

To address the socioeconomic and health impacts of the pandemic, the government
launched two social protection programs in 2020 and 2021 to support vulnerable
households and workers, in addition to implementing measures designed to support
businesses that were affected by the lockdown, including tax payments, partial payments
of salaries, and special loan programs for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

1.5. Development sectors and challenges

Jordan is losing its natural and fixed assets owing to climate change. Climate change is
and will affect Jordan in places where it is already most vulnerable. The climate hazards
that Jordan faces are significant temperature increases, precipitation decreases,
increased incidents of drought and increased evaporation. Yet, Jordan is heavily
dependent on fossil-fuel imports, with limited natural resource, extremely scarce water
supply. Extreme heat is driving up energy demand and price, water scarcity driving up
energy demand and price and fiscal burden, climate variability damaging infrastructure
and affecting services. Jordan’s fiscal situation demands that it finds private sector
solutions to these challenges, and that it incentivizes these solutions as part of its
development model, to build in resilience and economic growth.

Jordan has started notable improvements in mainstreaming the sectoral development

policies and strategies with the national goals of the Climate Change Policy (2013-2020)
in particular after Paris Agreement. The government had enacted the Climate Change
Bylaw No. 79, year 2019 to ensure full engagement of all partners and stakeholders
including both technical and decision makers. The bylaw sets the roles and the
responsibilities of the National Climate Change Committee and its structure, as well as
the roles and responsibilities of the different line ministries in the national context of the
climate change. However the provisions of the bylaw still need more clarification to
enforce the legislative oversight functions of the Ministry of Environment which is the focal
point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
its extended protocols.

In order to address these challenges, the government is working to develop instructions

to be stemmed from the bylaw to enable the Ministry of Environment to supervise,
implement, regulate and monitor the climate change actions at sectoral levels taking into
account the legislative and executive mandates of the different national institutions. And
pursuant to article 4 of Paris Agreement, the country is currently developing the roadmap
for formulating the long-term low emissions development strategy which is anticipated to
plan for future with high-resilient to climate impacts and shocks, while achieving a low
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carbon sustainable economic growth and prosperity, and with opportunities for all. Where
the NDC target will be a milestone of the long-term strategy.

1.6. Status of climate related development sectors

The key challenges for sustainable development in Jordan are connected to the sectors
of water and energy, as well as agriculture and transport.

1.6.1 Energy

The energy sector carries the heavy burden leadership in securing and ensuring energy
for a country which suffers from scarcity of fossil fuel resources, combined with the
regional instability and conflicts. Energy is the key driver of economic development of
Jordan, as it is used to pump water throughout the country, used to operate the industry
and transportation, and to drive other key services. According to statistics of Ministry of
Energy and Mineral Resources, Jordan currently imports around 93% of its energy which
represents approximately 8% of GDP. All this makes the key challenge for the
government is to reform efforts to reduce dependency from imports and to diversify the
energy mix. So the government chose the more sustainable pathway for energy sector
by adopting strategic goals including investment in renewable energy, reduction of energy
consumption via increasing energy efficiency, and developing Memorandum of
Understanding for electric interconnection with some neighboring countries.

The recently published National Energy Sector Strategy (2020-2030) is a ten-year plan
that sets the roadmap to increase self-sufficiency through utilization of domestic natural
and renewable sources, to reduce the energy consumption by improving the energy
efficiency measures in different sectors, and to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by
10% by the year 2030. Thus the self-sufficiency scenario will reduce reliance on costly
foreign fuel imports that burden the national economy while adopting a low-carbon
strategy.

The strategy encompasses opportunities to diversify the fuel types to operate the
industrial and transportation sectors by offering the use of natural gas in these sectors.
The strategy promotes the use of natural gas in the industrial operations as an alternative
lower-cost fuel in order to reduce the production costs and improve competitiveness of
the national products by reducing the special tax which was imposed on the use of natural
gas for the industrial sector from 16% to 7% with tax reliefs for the first three years. And
because the water sector is a high energy-consuming sector, the strategy sets a target
the aligned with the Water Sector Strategy to reduce the consumption of energy by 15%
through improving the energy efficiency measures by 2030.
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The growth of the renewable energy market in Jordan in the last few years was based on
economic incentives and a modern legal framework that supported investments. The
share of electricity from renewable grew from 0.7% in 2014 to over 13% in 2019, with an
estimated avoidance of carbon emissions of nearly 1.5 million tonnes in 2018 (IRENA,
2021). The potential is huge for the growth of renewable energy, and it needs to be linked
to a deep reform in the structural operations of the energy sector for more and better
diversification and decarbonization of the sector. In addition, renewable energy measures
should be developed and implementation in tandem with energy efficiency measures.
1.6.2 Water

Water scarcity has long been a major challenge for the government due to the limited
available water resources. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has stated that the recent
rainy season recorded less than 60% of average annual precipitation. The renewable
water resources base of Jordan has been estimated of around 780 million m 3, of which
275 million m3 is groundwater, with the remainder coming from surface water sources.
The regional climate models predict a decrease in winter rainfall and an increase in mean
annual temperature which will reduce the renewable water supply and further exacerbate
water scarcity in Jordan. The country is being a pioneer in using treated wastewater which
is stored inside Wadi dams and then used for irrigation in the Jordan Valley.

The National Water Strategy (2016- 2025) incorporates provisions for climate change,
water-energy-food nexus, sustainability of overexploited groundwater resources, the
adoption of new technologies including decentralized wastewater management, and
reuse of treated wastewater, as well as commercialization and consolidation of
wastewater services and increasing private sector participation. The strategy considers
the Sustainable Development Goals and is aligned with “Jordan 2025, A National Vision
and Strategy”.

As part of the country’s efforts to address the challenges associated with the on-going
water scarcity, the government is currently planning the Amman Aqaba Water
Desalination and Conveyance Project (AAWDCP) which is announced to be the largest
water generation scheme to be implemented in the country. The primary objective of the
project is to provide a safe and reliable freshwater supply for Amman and other
governorates along the project pipelines route from Aqaba to Amman. The project will
include a conveyance system to supply up to 150 million cubic meters of freshwater on a
continuous basis to the Amman area.

1.6. 3 Agriculture

In agricultural sector, the government developed a ten-year National Strategy for

Agricultural Development (2016-2025). Its overall goal is a sustainable development of
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agricultural resources that will preserve the country’s animal and plant biodiversity, favor
an investment environment in the sector and create a close link between production and
market demand. This objective will help to reduce the migration rate from rural to urban
areas and guarantee of greater food security for the whole country, together with
economic benefits of increased exports. In the same context, the government works
through the new Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy to transform to more efficient
inclusive resilient and sustainable Agri-food systems for better production, better
environment, and better life as the food security receives special attention and priority
from His Majesty the King. The Strategy objectives are, among others, to assist Jordan
to realize its role as a strategic regional hub for food security, to coordinate efforts and
interventions related to food security and to minimize food loss and waste. The Action
Plan of the Strategy, which is still under development, will be based on five main areas
covering the availability, access, utilization, stability in addition to the governance of food
security. The Strategy and its Action Plan aim to contribute to the sustainable
development goal to achieve zero hunger, as well as to support the country’s recovery
plan of the Covid-19 pandemic by addressing and reducing the pandemic’ economic,
social and environmental impacts.
1.6.4 Transport

The transport and logistics services sector plays a key role in Jordan’s economy and
contributes by over 8.2% of GDP (2017).The government has developed the Long-term
National Transport Strategy (2016-2030) which defined the sector’s activities including
road, rail, maritime, civil aviation. Currently the government is working on updating the
national transport strategy after doing an assessment of the challenges and opportunities
of the sector to enable the country to drive the process of modernization of the transport
system, and to capitalize on its strategic geographical advantages. In addition to aligning
the transport strategy with the other national sectoral strategies including, among others,
the energy and environment. The new strategy will foster, among others, the use of the
intelligent transport systems, the Bus Rabid Transit (BRT), the railway project as well as
promoting the investment environment to increase the competitiveness. The transport
sector is the second key emitter of GHGs in Jordan (after the energy industries)
accounted for 28% of the total GHG emissions in year 2016, therefore the outcomes of
the updated National Transport Strategy are anticipated to contribute directly and
indirectly to the national mitigation and adaptation measures.

Jordan has taken measures to support the adoption of electric vehicles, yet simultaneous
efforts will be taken to expand of the electrical vehicles charging infrastructure. The
Energy and Mineral Regulatory Commission (EMRC) currently provides licenses to public
and private electric vehicle charging stations and has announced its plans that all new
gasoline stations should have electric charging facilities.
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1.6.5 Industry
The industrial sector in Jordan is considered to be one of the main pillars for the Jordanian
economy, having noticeable and multiple contributions in the economic and social
development process. The emissions of the industrial processes accounting for 10% of
the country’s total emissions. As the key challenges of the sector are the energy and
water in terms of cost and availability, the government is promoting toward the goal of
resource efficiency and sustainable production and consumption in manufacturing sector
which proved to achieve a significant savings in costs, reduction in the consumption of
energy, water and other resources, reduction in GHG emissions as well as link to the
circular economy principle. The government promote the efficient-energy consumption in
industrial sector through incentivizing the energy audit improvement plan and its
implementation for SMEs local industries through creating a funding mechanism with
cooperation of local banks. On the other hand the government promotes the
synchronization of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal protocol and the Paris
Agreement to achieve a significant reduction of high-warming HFCs emissions from the
industries that use HFCs, and encourage the efficient cooling technologies as well.
1.6.6 Waste

The waste sector which is highly impacted by the challenges in demographics including
the rapid rate of population increase (waves of refugees) and urbanization adding more
pressure on the services provided by the government including waste collection, transfer
and treatment. To address the sector’s challenges, the country has achieved a notable
improvement in both the legislative and planning dimensions during the last five years.
The sector is governed by the Waste Management Framework Law No. 16 of 2020 which
sets the roles and responsibilities of all the competent authorities without confliction of
responsibilities to ensure that appropriate treatment and disposal of waste is mandated,
and to achieve the priority of ensuring the environmental and human health. Under this
law, it is the first time to ensuring the producers and polluters to take responsibility for the
treatment and disposal of waste. The National Solid Waste Management Strategy (2015-
2034) and its action plan aims to shift the national solid waste management toward a
modern and integrated one using the “Three-Rs” approach (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle)
within a span of 20 years. The strategy sets short, mid and long-term targets for the
different waste treatment proposed activities including recycling and reduction of the
quantities of bio-waste ending up to landfills.

1.7. Future Economic and development perspectives

In spite of the unprecedented challenges that were accompanied with conflicts and
instability in the region, Jordan is continuing to work towards comprehensive and
evolutionary reforms to sustain Jordan’s resilience, whilst increasing prosperity of the
citizens by mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the government
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development plans and national sectoral strategies. The government have achieved a
significant progress in the energy, water, agriculture, education, health, industry, private
sector engagement, and youth and women as the most critical cross-cutting themes.
However, in early 2020, Jordan was hit hardly, like the rest of the world, by the global
COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of the public health measures to limit the
spread of the virus have severely affected the country’s economy due to reduced
productivity, business closures, trade disruption, decimation of the tourism industry, and
disruptions in the transportation which cause significant reductions in income and a rise
in unemployment.

The government is currently planning to build back better with a focus on green recovery.
The planning process started with an assessment of the economic and social impacts of
COVID-19 on both the country and the sectoral levels namely, tourism, agriculture, health
and energy sectors that had been affected severely by the pandemic. The updated NDC
document is a key vehicle in the national efforts for a green post COVID-19 recovery
approach.

1.8. GHG emissions Profile (inventory, sectors and methodologies).

Jordan’s Biennial Update Report (BUR) was published in 2017 and emissions are based
on the country’s most recent national GHG Inventory (2012), estimated using the IPCC
2006 guidelines. The Tier 1 approach was applied for all sectors.

The considered gases were carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4),
sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
Also, Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emissions resulting from the
solvents subsector were estimated.

According to this inventory, Jordan contributed around 28 million tonne CO 2eq of

emissions to the atmosphere. A breakdown of Jordan’s total emissions of GHGs by sector
indicated that the energy sector was the major emitter with 81% of total national emissions
followed by the industrial sector with a contribution of 12%, then the waste sector and
Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) with 6% and 1% respectively.

Table 2.5: Energy sector net emissions (Gg), 2012

Categories Net CO2 eq %
ENERGY SECTOR 22756.83
Fuel Combustion Activities 22755.78
Energy Industries 11296.10 50%
Manufacturing Industries and Construction 1249.19 6%
Transport 7391.60 32%
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Other Sectors (Residential, Commercial and 2334.00 10%

Agriculture)
Non-Specified (Fuels used by the military) 484.92 2%

The shares of sectors/subsectors emissions within the overall national Inventories are
identified and ranked here through share percentages Tables and in Figure below
illustrating priority sectors that need to be targeted in mitigation measures:

GHG net emissions and percentages by sector and subsector, 2012

GHG Source and Sink Categories Gg CO2-Eq Sectors Subsectors

(%) (%)
Total National Emissions and Removals 27998 100%
1 - Energy 22757 81%
1.A - Fuel Combustion Activities 22756 81%
1.A.1 - Energy Industries 11296 40%
1.A.2 - Manufacturing Industries and 1249 4%
Construction
1.A.3 - Transport 7392 26%
1.A.4 - Other Sectors (residential, 2334 8%
commercial and Agr.)
1.A.5 - Non-Specified 485 2%
2 - Industrial Processes and Product Use 3368 12%
2.A - Mineral Industry 1531 5%
2.A.1 - Cement production 1163 4%
2.A.2 - Lime production 8 0%
2.A.3 - Glass Production 0 0%
2.A.4 - Other Process Uses of 360 1%
Carbonates
2.B - Chemical Industry 157 1%
2.B.2 - Nitric Acid Production 157 1%
2.C - Metal Industry 40 0%
2.C.1 - Iron and Steel Production 40 0.1%
2.D - Non-Energy Products from Fuels 227 1%
and Solvent Use
2.D.1 - Lubricant Use 227 1%
2.F - Product Uses as Substitutes for 1399 5%
ODSs
2.F.1 - Refrigeration and Air 1193 4%
Conditioning
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GHG Source and Sink Categories Gg CO2-Eq Sectors Subsectors

(%) (%)
2.F.3 - Fire Protection 206 1%
3 - Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land 237 1%
Use
3.A - Livestock 480 2%
3.B - Land -254 -1%
4 - Waste 1635 6%
4.A - Solid Waste Disposal 1488 5%
4.C - Incineration and Open Burning of 5 0.02%
Waste
4.D - Wastewater Treatment and 142 1%
Discharge
* Percentages for the sector and the subsector are based on the total national
emissions
Further, in the key category analysis that was carried out within Jordan’s first BUR, levels
of sector emissions were calculated based on the contribution of each source or sink
category to the total national inventory. The Key categories are defined as those
categories that when summed together in descending order of magnitude, add up to 95%
of the sum of all. Outcomes indicated that the following Energy, Waste and IPUU
subsectors are key sources:

Key category analysis (level assessment) BUR, 2012

Sector IPCC Subsector

Energy Energy Industries
Energy Road Transportation
Energy Other Sectors – (Commercials, residential and agriculture)
Waste Solid Waste Disposal
Energy Manufacturing Industries and Construction
Industrial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Industrial Cement Production
AFOLU Enteric Fermentation
Industrial Other Process Uses of Carbonates
AFOLU Forest land Remaining Forest land
Industrial Non-Energy Products from Fuels and Solvent Use- Lubricants
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Latest GHG mitigation projections and GHG data updates for the period 2020- 2040
(published in BUR1, 2017).

Year Baseline Scenario Mitigation Scenario Avoided Cumulative

Emissions Emissions Emissions Reduction
MtCO2 Equivalent
2020 34.33 31.65 2.68 4.95
2025 31.45 27.44 4.01 7.85
2030 38.18 33.64 4.53 9.46
2035 40.99 38.07 2.92 5.96
2040 45.56 40.73 4.83 9.32

1.9. Climate change impacts and Vulnerability

Based on the most updated climate projections prepared for the Third National
Communication (TNC) report in 2014, the following represent the key climate projections
for Jordan:

 All models predict a warmer climate with strong confidence in temperature

increase. In 2070-2100, average temperature increase could reach +2.1°C [+1.7
to +3.1°C] under the RCP 4.5 scenario, and +4°C [3.8- 5.1°C] under RCP 8.5.
 In addition, the dynamic projections predict a drier climate with medium
confidence. In 2070-2100, the cumulated precipitation could decrease by 15%
[-6% to -25%] using RCP 4.5 scenario and by – 21% [-9% to -35%] under RCP
8.5. The decrease would be more marked in the western part of the country
 The future projections indicated a warmer summer, drier autumn and winter with
medium confidence. The warming would be more significant in summer, and the
reduction of precipitation more important in autumn and winter than in spring, with
for instance median value of precipitation decrease reaching -35% in autumn in
2070-2100.
 The dynamic projections predict more heat waves with high confidence and the
analysis of summer temperature, monthly values and the inter-annual variability
reveal that some thresholds could be exceeded. For instance, in pessimistic but
possible projections, for a summer month, the average of maximum temperature
for the whole country could exceed 42-44°C.
 The future projections also indicate more droughts, where the maximum number
of consecutive dry days would increase in the reference model of more than 30
days for the 2070-2100 period. In contrast, annual values still show possible heavy
rainy events at the end of the century. More intense droughts would be (partly)
compensated by rainy years, in a context of a general decrease of precipitation.
Potential evaporation would increase
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2. Enabling factors for Climate Action

Jordan employs a framework of institutional and policy instruments in the planning and
implementation of its climate actions that constitute the structural tool for the
development and implementation of NDC within the context of the overall climate policy
and action fields in the country.

2.1 Governance and Institutional Arrangements

Jordan succeeded in developing the first NDC in 2015 under the coordination of the
Ministry of Environment being the Chair of the National Climate Change Committee. The
Ministry at that time adopted the participatory approach to convene the governmental
institutions, the private sector and other non-state actors. However, there was no defined
regulatory framework to guide the national process, the Ministry succeeded in developing
the first NDC under the guidance of the overarching national Climate Change Policy of
Jordan 2013-2020 which encompassed the national strategic objectives and measures
for mitigation and adaptation.

In year 2019 the Climate Change Bylaw (No. 79, 2019) was enacted to provide a
regulatory framework for climate-related actions. The Bylaw establishes the climate
change institutional arrangement in Jordan through the National Climate Change
Committee (NCCC) being responsible for oversight and coordination. And pursuant to its
provisions, the National Climate Change Committee is chaired by the Ministry of
Environment and consists of the 16 secretary generals from the line ministries. Serving
as a national focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and its Protocols and Funds, the Ministry of Environment is the
government agency responsible for preparing and tracking the implementation of the
NDCs, reporting to the UNFCCC Secretariat, developing the National Adaptation Plans
and any other documents in accordance with the international obligations in this regard.
The Ministry is responsible to establish and manage the Measurement, Reporting and
Verification Registry System, and to coordinate with the relevant authorities to develop
the National Climate Finance Plan and to benefit from the market
mechanisms/instruments that would prove its viability with the national circumstances.

2.2 Mainstreaming NDCs in national and local planning

The effective implementation of NDCs is determined not only by the leading role of the
Ministry of Environment but by ensuring an economy wide adoption of the NDC targets,
programmes and measures in sectoral plans implemented by all public, private and civil
institutions.

The National Energy Strategy (2020-2030) aims to increase the proportion of electricity
generated from local sources from 15% in 2019 to 48.5% in 2030. The energy efficiency
of all sectors will increase by 9 percent in 2030 compared to 2018, and that of the water
sector by 15 percent in 2025. One of the most important targets of the Strategy is to
 17

reduce carbon emissions by 10%. For the waste sector, the government adopted a
National Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy (2015-2034) which assures the
importance of taking the reduction in greenhouse gases as a key performance evaluation
for approving the municipal solid waste management projects taking into account the
environmental and economic opportunities associated with such projects.

The water sector, as well, developed the “Climate Change Policy for Resilient Water
Sector” in 2016 which provides the background, concept, solutions, and implementation
mechanisms for building resilience. This policy explicitly assures the importance of
conformity between the sectoral national policies as well as the international policies
particularly the Paris Agreement for developing robust solutions and building resilience
for sustainable development. The agriculture sector which impacted by the climatic
changes that affect the agriculture production in Jordan has recently developed the “
Climate –Smart Agriculture Action Plan” which aims to strengthen farmers adaptation and
resilience to climate change and support mitigation efforts as well.

At the local levels the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has developed various climate
change plans that aims at reducing GHG emissions and enhancing resilience. The key
plans are;
1- Amman Resilience Strategy
The city of Amman, The Capital of Jordan, as part of the 100 Resilient Cities has
developed in year 2017 a resilience strategy based on 5 main pillars to become an
integrated, smart, environmentally proactive, innovative, prosperous, young, equal,
proud, and united city. A total of 16 goals and 54 related actions have been designed to
help the city to fulfil the ambition of being a resilient city.
2- Amman Climate Plan, a Vision for 2050

Amman Climate Action Plan is an accompanying document to the Amman Resilience

Strategy. Where one of the initiatives of the Resilience Strategy is to create a climate
action plan to mitigate emissions under the environmentally proactive city pillar. Taken
together, these two documents chart a path forward for Amman toward a more
prosperous, resilient and low-carbon future.

Amman, as Part of C40 Cities, has committed to delivering a GHG emission neutral and
climate resilient city by 2050. The city also committed to creating a plan and a pathway
for reaching that target, with an interim target of a 40% reduction over the 2014 baseline
by 2030.
3- Amman Green City Action Plan (GCAP)

It is the most recent and comprehensive plan the reflects the serious ambitions of the city
of Amman to improve the environmental concerns and improve the quality of life of its
 18

citizens as well as addressing the climate change. The plan proposes 37 short-term
actions, nine of which are designated as “priority actions” and long-term actions that
include infrastructure investments, policy measures, capacity development, and
advocacy, all of which are designed to help achieve the vision for a green Amman.

In order to mainstream the Nationally Determined Contributions in the subnational

planning processes, two different pilot projects were implemented to support the local
authorities in responding more actively to sustainable policy challenges including climate
change, and to build their capacities to formulate and implement more sustainable local
policies aligning with the Jordan’s NDC.

The first project targeted the large municipalities, namely Greater Irbid Municipality,
Municipality of Karak, and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). The
training and technical assistance were provided for the municipalities’ staff and the local
key stakeholders which enabled them to develop their local Sustainable Energy and
Climate Action Plans that fit their local needs. The second project was implemented in
2019 in another three medium-sized municipalities namely, Municipality of Deir Alla (north
of Jordan), Municipality of Aloyoon (middle), and Municipality of Basseera (south). The
three municipalities had developed their Local Climate Action Plans (LCAPs) based on
the local relevant climate actions, socio-economic analysis, capacities assessment,
availability of plans, staff availability, institutional structure, and data availability to define
key indicators to cover both the mitigation and adaptation objectives.

2.3 NDC and Long term climate Strategy

This NDC document specifies Jordan's climate commitments in GHG emission reduction
and enhancing climate resilience until 2030 and will be subjected to further modifications
and increases in ambition in the future. The objectives and targets of this NDC document
will be aligned with the Long Term Strategy (LTS) that the Government of Jordan is
currently developing in the form of a new climate change policy for 2050. The new climate
change policy will introduce long term targets and measures for enhancing adaptive
capacity within the context of a climate vision that aims to move towards a net zero carbon
economy.

2.4 Jordan’s Sustainable Development Goals

Jordan adopted the 2030 Agenda and developed a Roadmap for Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) implementation, mainstreaming the SDGs into national/sub-
national planning, budgetary and monitoring frameworks and institutional mechanisms
put in place to achieve its commitment to leaving no one behind.
 19

Jordan focused on ensuring efficient alignment by incorporating the SDGs in national

frameworks, including “Jordan 2025: A National Vision and Strategy”, The Government
Executive Development Program (EDP), The Governorate Development Programs, The
Jordan Response Plans for Syria Crisis as well as all the national plans and strategies.
And to avoid overlapping mechanisms during the implementation of 2030 Agenda, the
government opted to build upon the existing institutional frameworks. Where the National
Higher Committee for Sustainable Development provides guidance and follow up on all
decisions, priorities and recommendations related to 2030 Agenda. The committee which
was established in 2002, following the announcement of MDGs, and was expanded in
2017 to include broader government and civil society participation.

Currently, the government is focusing on strengthening linkages between planning,

budgeting and financing for climate, which is a key priority with the potential to have a
transformative impact on all other SDGs. It is found that investing in adapting to and
mitigating climate change has the potential to accelerate progress in many other SDGs,
with the available potential to work with public and private investors on aligning their
business models and investments to the SDGs which will lead to more effective resource
allocation and catalyze additional financing for national SDGs priorities.

2.5 Government Indicative Executive Program (GIEP) (2021-2024)

The most recently published Indicative Executive Program (2021-2024) represents the
governmental planning framework that focuses on sector strategies and fiscal reforms as
well as taking into consideration the existing government projects including the Public
Investment Management Program, the Five-Year Reform Matrix, and the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP), which will have a positive impact on future socio-economic planning,
prioritizing objectives and allocating financial resources for these priorities. The program
integrated the sustainable development goals (2030) into the national priorities as part of
Jordan’s roadmap for the future.
In the GIEP (2021-2024), the government stresses on the future opportunities for
stimulating the green growth and implementing the climate change measures as
sustainable solutions to address the country’s economic vulnerability. The program
indicated supportive measures to enhance the implementation of the NDC Action Plan
and Green Growth Action Plan including harmonizing the national policies to maximize
the benefits of transitioning to low carbon economy, among others, to attract foreign
investment, create job opportunities, and mobilize the international climate finance and
the new international carbon market instruments.

2.6 National Green Growth Plan (NGGP)

Green growth is an approach for achieving a number of simultaneous objectives that
brings Jordan closer to its sustainable development ambition.
 20

The National Green Growth Plan (NGGP), which was developed in 2017, applies green
growth to Jordan as a practical approach that builds upon existing government strategies,
primarily Vision 2025, and demonstrates pathways to achieving them in a sustainable
way taking into account the factors that impact on the country’s economic, social and
environmental development in the longer term.

This NGGP focuses on 6 priority sectors that provide coverage of key green growth issues
and opportunities for Jordan to outline green growth frameworks and actions for energy,
water, agriculture, tourism, transport and waste. They include sectors identified as high-
potential growth areas, such as tourism, and sectors that threaten to inhibit Jordan’s
development if not properly managed, such as the water sector.

The plan identifies the interlinking desired outcomes of green growth opportunities in
Jordan to be;

- Sustained growth for the Jordanian economy

- Maintaining and enhancing Jordan’s biodiversity and ecosystems services
- Inclusive and equitable growth for Jordan’s population
- Reducing GHG Emissions from Jordan-
- Ensuring Jordan’s environmental and economic resilience into the future
The NGGP introduced the concept of clusters to demonstrate the mutually reinforcing
benefits derived from grouping green growth interventions. Three clusters have been
identified; Green Growth Corridor, Smart Urban and Rural Resilience. The green growth
corridor has a specific geographic focus, being the important north-south route between
Aqaba and Amman. In contrast, the smart urban and rural resilience clusters are thematic,
and could be applied to a range of rural and urban areas in Jordan.
In late 2018 as a next step toward implementation of the recommendations in the National
Green Growth Plan, under the request of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Green Growth
National Action Plans 2021-2025 began to be developed. The Green Growth National
Action Plan (GG-NAP) outlines sector-level green growth frameworks and actions for the
Agriculture, Energy, Tourism, Transport, Waste and Water sectors to support
implementation of Jordan’s green growth vision and strengthen future ability to recovery
and contain shocks from catastrophic events such as COVID-19.

2.7 NDC-Partnership Support

To motivate the progression in NDC implementation, the Government of Jordan
developed and validated the NDC Action Plan in 2019. It is results-based implementation
plan that emphasizes adaptation and mitigation actions prioritized in key sectors which
were already covered in the First NDC, namely transport, energy, agriculture, health,
water and waste management. The Action Plan was then circulated through the NDC
Partnership’s network to seek international support for implementation.
 21

In year 2020, with the support of the Partnership’s Climate Action Enhancement Package
(CAEP), the government worked further to prioritize 35 actions out of the whole actions
included in the NDC Action Plan and to prepare a cost-benefit analysis for them in addition
to developing a Climate Finance Strategy to facilitate reaching out funding sources.

Currently, the government is working to integrate the sectoral actions included in the NDC
Action Plan with the government’ Executive Development Program (EDP) which will
improve their national-priority levels for allocating financial resources and readiness for
implementation in the next three years of the government plan.

2.8 Private Sector engagement

Jordan acknowledges the fundamental role of private sector in achieving the economic,
social and environmental development. In this regard, the government developed the
Jordan Economic Growth Plan (2018-2022) to recapture the growth momentum and
realize the development potential over the coming five years. The plan addresses 19
areas of enabling environment including 23 private sector investments among others. The
identified investment opportunities distributing over ICT and infrastructure and economic
sectors. Although Jordan’s experience in Public-Private Partnership started in the last
decade, the government still committed to move forward with reforms and enabling the
Jordanian economy to be more resilient to macroeconomic challenges. For this objective,
the government had recently adopted the new Public-Private Partnership Projects Law
No. 17 of 2020 to be the legal reference and institutional framework for the private sector
investments and to enable future PPP projects in the country.

At sectoral level, the government cooperate with the local banks by designing a financing
mechanism comprising a financial contribution from the Jordan Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) to promote the use of renewable energy and energy
efficiency in residential and industrial sectors to contribute to reducing the final energy
consumption.

There is a need to streamline the process of creating and sustaining high skill green jobs.
Establishment of a green jobs council or similar body, with a strong representation of
private sector and key public sector stakeholders could be explored. This could lead
demand-side and supply-side assessments to identify gaps in Jordanian ecosystem in
terms of green technology and green entrepreneurship skills; supporting and coordinating
private sector-led green technology skills’ development and national awareness activities

2.9 Gender Mainstreaming in NDC implementation

The inequitable distribution of resources, decision making powers and services are
disproportionately affecting women's role in climate response plan and in natural
resources management in general, especially in rural areas.
 22

The National Climate Change Policy (2013-2030) (NCCP), the National Adaptation Plan
(NAP) and the Third National Communication report (TNC) all pledged to address gender
inequalities through mainstreaming a gender perspective in relevant climate change
adaptation and mitigation policies, strategies and action.

Transformative change relies on translating the gender equality commitments to practical

actions that address root causes of inequalities, discrimination, and imbalanced
distribution of resources, unequal power relations, and marginalization. Promoting
gender equality, social justice, inclusion and equal human rights entails a strategic shift
in recognizing the differential circumstances among and between groups of women, men,
girls and boys that calls for approaching priorities, designing action, planning
implementation and monitoring progress in a more responsive and targeted manner.

Considering the magnitude of priorities that are on women organizations’ agenda, it is

essential that synergies are drawn to find the common grounds between gender equality,
women empowerment and climate change activists and practitioners to mitigate the long
term impact of climate change on women and promote collaboration and cooperation.

Although communities are affected by climate change differently, the local narrative falls
short from establishing the linkages. Women are particularly disadvantaged as their
access to information and knowledge are frequently constrained. Nonetheless, women’s
knowledge and coping mechanisms are at the core of adapting to climate change impact
and or mitigating emissions

Acknowledging the different impact of climate change on women, men, girls and boys,
and the need for adopting gender-responsive solutions to improve the gender resilience
to climate change, Jordan is currently pursuing to move forward with gender
mainstreaming in climate change action by developing the National Gender
Mainstreaming in Climate Change Policy which encompasses the development of the
framework for addressing the gender inequality and a strong local discourse on gender
equality and climate change to advance progression towards achieving the national
sustainable development goals.

2.10 Targeting vulnerable groups in NDC implementation

Human rights based climate planning should take into priority the needs and rights of the
most vulnerable groups in Jordan. NDC implementation could provide an adequate
framework for the integration of vulnerable groups in climate mitigation and adaptation
projects that also respond to key socioeconomic developments in Jordan. Some of the
most vulnerable groups include:

 Children: UNICEF has recently issued a landmark global climate risk index for
children which uses data to generate new global evidence on how many children
are currently exposed to climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stresses.
 23

A composite index, the CCRI brings together geographical data by analyzing 1.)
Exposure to climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stresses; and 2.)
Child vulnerability. In the global ranking Jordan was situated in the middle rank at
a medium-high risk status which raises the seriousness of the need to address
such challenges at the national level. Children sensitive climate planning should
be a key element in the NDC implementation and future climate policy and
programmes in Jordan.
 Refugees: Jordan has been feeling the impacts of all regional wars and conflicts
in the past decades. In fact Jordan can be considered as the second most
impacted country in any regional conflicts as it has acted as a destination of many
refugees which have been assimilated and integrated in the Jordanian social
fabric. The increase of the number of population due to refugee influx in the past
decade has caused a population increase of up to 10% which has put additional
stress on natural resources. Climate change will definitely exacerbate the already
felt increased use of natural resources due to refugees and any plan to enhance
the economic resilience of Jordan for assimilating refugees will need to a climate
responsive plan as well.
 Unemployed: With a huge increase of unemployment among Jordanian youth and
refugees the main priority for the economy is to generate new jobs. Linking NDC
implementation with creating new green jobs will empower NDC implementation
to serve national economic and social priorities along with addressing global
climate responsibilities.
 Disabled: Implementation of NDC and climate plans should take into consideration
the need to create adequate spaces, tools and empowerment opportunities for the
increasing percentage of disabled people in Jordan. Development of green
infrastructure at urban areas should include disabled friendly options, while
creating new green skilled labor opportunities could integrate the disabled through
learning, awareness, education and management career paths that are based on
possibilities of disabled people to enter the market by taking chance of
opportunities created by virtual working environments. Adaptation and mitigation
measures that are disabled friendly should be considered as social priorities in
addition to their climate friendly nature.
 24

3. GHG Mitigation

The GHG Mitigation analysis and the identified measures within this updated NDC covers
all the IPCC sectors (Energy, industrial processes and product use, agriculture, forestry
and land-use, and waste) and the target is an economy wide target. The information
provided in this section are based on IPCC sectors categorization.

The Business as Usual (BAU) scenario was developed by using the 2012 GHG inventory
as a base year. The 2012 GHG inventory data was compiled according to 2006 IPCC
Guidelines and its 2019 Refinement for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The BAU
and mitigation scenarios were developed for all sectors using the "Low Emissions
Analysis Platform” (LEAP) software. The covered gases are: CO 2, CH4, N2O and the
fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs).

The BAU scenario was developed for the period (2012-2030), it considers a future in
which no additional measures are implemented (business as usual), resulting in higher
energy demands and carbon intensity. It does not consider energy efficiency
improvements nor the fuel shift towards natural gas in the residential, commercial, and
industrial sectors. Fuel shares are projected based on historical trends, with a constraint
of maximum ±1% annual growth.

The main macroeconomic data and figures considered for the baseline scenario were
obtained from the official sources as follows.
- Economic Growth Rate: The economic growth rate or the Gross Domestic
Production (GDP) considered in the baseline scenario was obtained from
Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) (COVID-19 impact
was taken into consideration).
- The value added for economic sectors was also considered as stated in the
“Jordan 2025”.
- Jordanian population and non-Jordanian population and the family size, the
growth rate for both Jordanian and non-Jordanian were obtained from
Department of Statistics-Jordan (2015 Census).
- The official discount rate of (8%) as announced by MoPIC was considered.
- The energy data for historical period were obtained from the Jordan energy
balances issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) which
illustrate the energy flow from supply side, transformation and demand side.

Key assumptions for developments of the Business-As-Usual scenario were taken from
the following main sources:
- National Strategies (Energy, Waste, Water and Transport),
- Population and GDP: Department of Statistics (DOS) and MoPIC
 25

- Local Climate Action Plans,

- Basic consumption data obtained from annual reports of national entities and
Ministries.

Thirty two mitigation actions were selected based on consultation with stakeholders and
from:

- The Government indicative executive program (GIEP).

- The Cost Benefit Analysis Report for the 35 priority Actions contributing to Jordan’s
NDC)
- Jordan’s Second BUR.
- Newly identified Projects
- Total actions in scenarios cover: Energy Sector, Transport Sector, Waste Sector,
Industry Sector and Agriculture and Forestry Sector.
- Energy measures including renewable energy and energy efficiency targets up to
2030 were considered and estimated, namely;
o Renewable energy to contribute 35% of electricity generation by the year
2030,
o And, improving efficient energy consumption in all sectors by 9%.

Outcomes of the analysis of the actions resulted in the target of total GHG emission
reduction of 31% in 2030 compared to BAU in 2012 (description of actions is in Annex 1)

Selected Baseline Scenario Mitigation Scenario

Years Emissions (BAU) Mitigation Avoided Emissions
Scenario
Emissions
Gg CO2eq
2012 27,998 27,998 0
2015 33,516 33,443 73
2020 33,941 32,705 1236
2025 37,655 31,601 6054
2030 43,989 30,291 13698
*The Estimated Mitigation Target is 31%
** Resulting target was calculated by dividing the accumulative emissions
avoided till 2030 by the total emissions in 2030 resulting in the BAU scenario
[target% = (accumulative emissions by 2030/BAU-2030 emissions)* 100]
 26

The mitigation scenarios vs BAU scenarios is illustrated in figure 1

Figure 1: the GHG trajectory of the proposed mitigation scenarios vs BAU scenario.

Energy

The energy sector is by far the major source of GHG emissions in Jordan. The sector is
a fundamental to economic and social development as the country imports 93% of its total
energy comprising almost 8% of Jordan’s GDP. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources has recently published the National Energy Sector Strategy (2020-2030). It is
a ten years plan aims to place the roadmap to increase self-sufficiency through utilization
of domestic natural and renewable resources, as well as expansion of existing energy
developments thus reducing reliance on costly foreign imports that burden the country’s
economy.
The energy measures that are considered to achieve the NDC target are;
o Increased percentage of electricity generated from renewables1 to have a share of
more 35% by the year 2030
o The Aqaba Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project (AAWDCP) -
Wheeling Project, 185 MW PV (50% of the overall needed power demand).
o Introduction of concentrated solar power (CSP) of 100 MW and CSP 300 MW
o Improving efficient energy consumption in all sectors by 9%
o Energy measures in Residential sector
- Natural gas distribution in the main cities ( Amman , Zarqa , Aqaba )
- Solar water Heaters (SWH) Project for 90,000 houses
o Energy Efficiency Projects in industry:

1
Emissions calculated using Grid Emission factor of 542.5 gram CO 2 eq / kWh.
 27

- Returning Un-Returned Condensate to the Feed Water Tanks in Food

Industry
- Insulating the un-insulated pipes, fittings and tanks in food industries
- Using Regenerative burners instead of conventional burners in Steel
Reheating Industry.

Transport

Transport sector is the largest energy consumer in 2018 with a share of 49%, however it
is a primary infrastructure and service sector required to drive the wheel of growth for
other economic sectors. The measures that are considered to achieve the NDC target
are;
o Bus Rapid Transit Project (BRT): According to Cost Benefit Analysis Report of the
priority actions contributing to Jordan’s NDC, this project involves the planning,
design and implementation of the second stage of a BRT network in Amman. It will
be integrated with the fare collection system for BRT Phase 1 and other public
transport in the city. Key activities include construction of four additional BRT lines
(as there are already two under construction), followed by implementation of fare-
collection systems.

o Future electric bus fleet: this project aims to provide new bus services for the cities
of Irbid and Zarqa with a public sector funded model. This project involves the
establish of electric transportation networks in two urban cities, Irbid and Zarqa,
through the government’s acquisition of 100 new electric buses for the designed
public transport organizations to operate, as well as the development of
complementary aspects for the success of its implementation, which mainly
includes the construction of supporting infrastructure. Each city will have a public
sector organization to oversee the operation of the system, be responsible for
funding and to plan service changes.

o Intelligent transport systems (ITS): According to Cost Benefit Analysis Report of

the priority actions contributing to Jordan’s NDC, this 5 year project involves
integrating information and communication technologies into transportation in
order to increase the efficiency of the system. This includes installation of TV
surveillance systems, electronic tracking and electronic payment systems and
electric card charging devices. Daily monitoring and maintenance are also an
important aspect of this project. Overall, this will deliver improved congestion and
reduced journey times

o Promoting hybrid and electric cars at national level -including 50% of the Public
fleet will be EVs- and assuming annual increase in private cars adoption by 2%
(this project was developed based on received study from Ministry of transport
(letter No. general/152/004382) and based on Energy National Strategy (2020-
2030))
 28

Industrial processes and product use (IPPU)

The industrial sector is considered to be one of the main pillars for the Jordanian economy
contributed directly to about 24% of the national GDP in 2017. That is, the sector
employing more than 240,000 people in 18,000 industrial facilities distributed in the
country.

The industrial sector consists mainly of two types the manufacturing and the mining
sectors. It is running mainly by the private sector which is steering by the potential viability
of the investment in climate interventions. The measures that will contribute to the NDC
target are the following;
o Use of steel slag and/or fly ash to substitute the raw materials needed to
produce clinker
o Increase the percentage of Pozzolana in CEM II
o Produce new cement product CEM IV with 45% of Pozzolana
o Use of biomass (MSW or/and Sewage Sludge) as alternative fuels
o Installation of a catalyst system for mitigation of N2O emissions in Nitric Acid
production at the KEMAPCO company in Aqaba
o Implementing pilot interventions to scale-up the sustainable use of cooling
technologies with climate-friendly gases.

Waste
The sharp increase in population in the last decade due to mass influxes of refugees as
well as the improved living standards caused a sharp increase in the municipal waste
growth rate. All this puts a substantial burden on municipalities that provide the services
as well as on the surrounding ecosystems. In 2012, the waste sector accounted for 6%
of Jordan’s total GHG emissions. The sector will contribute to the NDC target by
implementing the following interventions;
o Biogas collection and utilization from Al-Dhulil, Al-Salt and Madaba domestic
solid waste landfill. The proposed projects aim at collecting the generated
biogas, treating it for impurities, generating electricity by introducing biogas
generator and connecting the generated electricity to the national electricity grid.
The suggested projects will contribute to reducing the amount of fuel used for
electricity generation.
o Biogas generation by utilizing the sludge generated from the Wadi Arab, Baqa’a,
Ramtha and Salt and Madaba domestic wastewater treatment plants. The
proposed projects aim at generating biogas from the sludge and connecting the
generated electricity to the national electricity grid. These projects will contribute
to reducing the amount of fuel used for electricity generation, taking into
consideration that a considerable amount of sludge produced from the
wastewater treatment plants without any utilization.
o Implementing composting units for pre-segregated bio-waste in 4 Areas with a
total capacity of 200 tonnes/day
 29

Agriculture
The GHG emissions of agriculture and forestry activities in the year 2012 accounted for
around 1% of Jordan’s total emissions. The sector was found to be a net emitter not a
sink for GHGs, and accordingly with only a small forest area of less than 1% of the
country’s total area, it is important to direct our national efforts to increase forests areas
and to protect existing forests through higher law enforcement.
The agriculture and forestry projects that will contribute to achieving the NDC target will
be implementing the following measures;
o Climate smart agriculture.
o Urban tree plantations
o Rangeland restoration
o Forest tree and side road Plantations

Emerging Opportunities in GHG Mitigation Policies and

Technologies

In addition to the direct GHG reduction measures that were presented in the sections
above, ambitious combination of policies and technologies can potentially provide a
promising GHG emission reduction schemes that can be implemented over the next years
which will add to what has already been identified in the sections above.

The following are examples of emerging mitigation measures to be explored, quantified

and proposed in the future NDC update cycles in various sectors as follows:
 Renewable Energy storage

The acceleration of RE production in Jordan, reaching a share of 13% of electricity

production in 2019, and the series of new RE projects that are being either constructed
or planned, pushes the RE capacity to a close to saturation of the grid, according to the
perspective of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. By the end of 2021, 1600
MW of PV and 715 MW of wind energy are scheduled to be grid connected; any planned
continuation of the growth of RE production requires solid and stable infrastructure of RE
storage. Energy storage is becoming more and more an attractive option that will need to
become a part of the energy services toolkit of the Jordanian system, as a means of
ensuring the provision of stable, high quality power supplies, in particular in the context
of increased penetration of variable renewable energy sources. Currently, a few private
sector companies are designing storage capacities with market based investments.
 30

 Hydrogen

Thanks to its enormous potential for electricity production from renewable energy, Jordan
could prospectively play a significant role in the emerging global hydrogen market.
Stepping up hydrogen product will not only open a new export market for Jordan and
thereby create new economic opportunities, it will also help the country in decarbonising
its own energy supply as well as decrease its dependency on imported energetic
commodities. Having similar properties as natural gas, hydrogen is especially useful in
replacing carbon-intense fuels in sectors that are hard to electrify, such as maritime
transport, aviation, and heavy land transport. In order to partake in the global hydrogen
market, however, Jordan must ensure that its production fulfils the sustainability criteria
set by import countries with regard to the electricity production for desalination and
electrolysis as well as in respect of water demand and ecologic impact. There is additional
potential in the hydrogen value by using its derivatives, in particular ammonia. This is
relevant for Jordan’s fertiliser industry.

While currently no quantification of the hydrogen potential in Jordan is available, several

public and private sector entities are in the process of providing such analyses which are
expected to be available latest in the second quarter of 2022.

 Urban systems

Adopting a “compact city” planning approach (e.g. developing within the urban boundaries
(i.e. infill development close to jobs and public transport) as opposed to rapid urban
expansion on the fringes which will add to more transport and infrastructure needs) could
lead to a reduction in GHG emissions by 13.8% in Amman (compared to BAU); 11.5% in
Irbid; 6.3% in Mafraq; 2.9% in Russeifa; and, 2% in Zarqa. In addition to GHG benefits,
the models also show substantial cost savings for municipalities.

 Climate-sensitive urban design / green infrastructure and increase green

spaces

Complementing the point above, some municipalities show the potential to increase green
spaces through planting trees and through implementing neighborhood-level solutions to
address better walkability and use of non-motorized forms of transportation, use of urban
design, and adoption of more greenery/green/nature-based infrastructure/solutions that
not only helps with issues such as flooding, but can also mitigate heat islands and energy
load etc. at an urban design scale.

 Waste

It is crucial to introduce the whole cycle of solid-waste management in GHG mitigation

reduction calculations (including intermediate steps like constructing transfer stations,
 31

fleet management, etc.) In addition, constructing new/additional cells in landfills may not
be sufficient, if necessary engineered measures in the landfill are not taken and if
measures such as landfill gas recovery, etc. are not considered; and (b) whether any
interventions to reduce and recycle waste (e.g. residential, reusing construction waste
etc.) could be readily implemented and included.

 Transport

There are contestability/competition issues in freight and transport of passengers that

undermine incentives to modernize the fleet and make it more adequate to the needs of
various sectors, including tourism. There could be different actions undertaken to create
better incentive system for operators / owners of trucks and buses, from minimum
emission standards to providing financing for renewal of fleets, to resolving the market
entry barriers.

 Green Buildings

There is extensive potential for green building retrofitting of existing building stock (which
covers the majority of urban areas) through (a) adoption of green building codes; (b)
consider water and/or energy use in buildings; (c) energy efficiency in public buildings
and public spaces.

 Industrial production

Deep integration and upscaling of energy efficiency, resource use efficiency and reuse
as well as circular economy principles and practices can constitute key measures that will
enhance GHG reduction in the industrial production sector. A combination of
technological advancement and introduction of conducive policy measures could be
explored to provide a driving force for a more sustainable and climate friendly industrial
production in Jordan. In the business area in general, entrepreneurs could play a major
role in disseminating information (e.g., via digital platforms) to households and MSMEs
about actions they could take to be more resource efficient; for introducing and rolling out
services in high impact segments, for example, in insulation, heating, etc. There is also
potential for making it easier for companies to engage in the shared services business
models to reduce the carbon footprint, support functions to increase exports of green
goods and services.
 32

4. Adaptation
The Government of Jordan had initiated its efforts toward climate change adaptation since
1999, where it was the first developing country that has submitted the Initial National
Communication to the UNFCCC including a comprehensive vulnerability analysis. Efforts
towards climate change have continued where the second national communication report
(SNC) was submitted in 2009, covering key vulnerable sectors in the country and relevant
adaptation issues and actions. In addition, the first comprehensive adaptation programme
covering water, agriculture, health and education under the title “Adaptation” to Climate
Change to Sustain Jordan’s MDG Achievements” was implemented over the period 2009-
2011. Moreover, the first National Climate Change Policy framework for adaptation was
developed in 2013 with three key policies and strategic documents which are: (i) the
National Climate Change Policy (2013) (ii) the Third National Communication to the
UNFCCC including downscaling climate projections for the first time in Jordan (2014);
and (iii) its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) (2015).

In 2019, the Ministry of Environment issued the climate change bylaw No. 79 for the year
2019 to ensure full engagement of all partners and stakeholders including both technical
and decision makers. The bylaw set the procedures for climate change activities and
planning processes, to be ratified by the national climate change committee that includes
key stakeholders. Jordan is expected to finalize its Fourth National Communication (FNC)
exercise in 2022

The government has adopted in 2021 the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which
consolidate the country’s vision on adaptation supported by the prioritized adaptation
actions that link the economic sectors and country level vulnerabilities to enhance long-
term resilience and adaptive capacity with consideration for gender and the needs for the
most vulnerable groups. The NAP identified seven vulnerable sectors to climate change,
these are the agriculture, water, urban, biodiversity, coastal, social and economic
development and health. The plan includes the sectoral vulnerability analysis, the sectoral
adaptation measures and the roadmap for implementation. The participatory approach
that was followed in developing the plan assured that its objectives are embedded in the
country’s fabric of development.
Based on a detailed vulnerability assessment the NAP has developed a programme of
key interventions for priority adaptation sectors. The programmes are flexible and open
to many measures that can be implemented as either:

1. Policy based measures.

2. Technology based measures.
3. Social mobilization based measures.
4. Nature based measures.
5. Economic development based measures.
 33

Addressing adaptation challenges in key sectors (i.e water, agriculture) represent the
backbone of Jordan's sustainable development challenges and has been integrated
within the key development related sectors.

The following pages provides a description of key strategic objectives for increasing
adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change impacts in Jordan that should be
implemented using national and international resources. Annex 2 provides a summary
of key investment projects in adaptation related sectors that have been identified
through national climate related action plans including the Green Growth Action Plans
and The NDCP Action Plan.

4.1 Water Resource Management

Water is the defining sector for adaptation to climate change in Jordan. Being one of the
world's most water scarce countries, the multiplier impact of climate change will only
add to the complexity of the water demand management challenges Jordan has been
facing and will continue to face. The new Water Master Plan, currently being developed
by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation will have Climate Change impacts as one of its
pillars.

In 2018 UN ESCWA published the results of the AR5 (2014) related RCM for the Middle
East (RICCAR). This model is currently being refined for Jordan, based on an 8 km grid
resolution. The following represents main outcomes from this study:

 Lower water resources availability: Climate change will reduce both, surface and
groundwater resources availability, by 15% until 2040. As a result, the internal
long-term conventional water resources availability will decrease even further
from current levels of 680 MCM (65 m³/ca/yr) to 580 MCM (46 m³/ca/yr) in 2040.
The occurrence of snow would strongly decrease; therefore, groundwater
recharge might even decrease further.
 More frequent and extended drought periods, more heat waves: the number of
consecutive dry days will increase in particular in the western region, where
currently rainfed agriculture is possible.
 More frequent flooding events: the number of heavy precipitation days is slightly
increasing, in particular in the south.
 Strong increase in evaporation: more water will be evaporated from plants, water
bodies, leakage losses
In addition, there are a few indirect consequences of climate change vulnerability of
water sector on related sectors and developmental priorities in Jordan:

 Agriculture: due to lower precipitation, the area where rainfed agriculture is

possible will significantly shrink. Due to higher temperatures and evaporation,
more water will be needed for irrigation. To maintain agricultural production at
 34

the same level more water may be required for more irrigation. Higher
temperatures will affect plant growth and thus reduce agricultural productivity.
 Domestic water demand: with higher summer temperatures, consuming water
will be increased significantly during the hot summer.
 Water quality: lower precipitation and higher temperature will mean that salinity
in surface and groundwater will rise. Therefore, desalination will be increasingly
required for domestic water supplies.
Moreover, increased evaporation and decreased rainfall will lead to several impacts on
the water sector such as less recharge and therefore less replenishment of surface
water and groundwater reserves, which will result in serious soil degradation that could
lead to desertification in the long term. Increased evaporation of surface water will also
reduce its quality increasing its salinity and decreasing its oxygen content as well
increasing the pollution levels.

The key strategic approaches for addressing adaptation challenges in the water sector
are the following:

4.1.1 Integrating Climate adaptation and resilience in policy and

institutional reforms in the water sector

The MWI and the water sector in general is undergoing a deep and effective institutional
reform process that provides a perfect opportunity to introduce a structural approach for
climate resilience at the legal, policy and institutional levels at the Ministry of Water and
Irrigation and relevant public authorities responsible for water resource management.
This includes:

1. Structural integration of climate change impacts and adaptation in the new National
Water Masterplan
2. Strengthening the human, technical and administrative capacities of the Climate
Change Directorate at Ministry of Water and Irrigation and related Authorities.
3. Adopting a vulnerability approach to determining priority geographical areas and
communities for water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) interventions that aim to
expand and improve systems to adapt vulnerable communities to potential
climate change impacts.
4. Adopting risk-informed programming as an adaptation planning tool at Ministry of
Water level.
4.1.2 Improved water demand management and reducing gap between
water demand and supply
Water demand management is the most urgent priority in the water sector in Jordan, and
a key challenge to all other related development sectors. The increased scarcity of water
resources due to lower rainfall, increased demand and structural challenges lead to an
increased gap between available water resources threated under climate change
 35

conditions, and ever-increasing demand from various development sector. Addressing

this challenge should be implemented within a climate resilient approach which includes
the following actions:
1. Reducing non-revenue water loss in domestic and irrigation water supply systems
through rehabilitation and maintenance of water networks and enforcement of law.
2. Enhancing water storage capacity in natural dams and water retention systems.
3. Reducing groundwater use for irrigation and enhancing water recharge
technologies including managed and artificial groundwater recharge mechanisms
4. Continue with treated wastewater reuse in Jordan Valley and Highlands as a water
augmentation tool to save freshwater

4.1.3 Improving adaptive capacity of water utilities

Water utilities (wastewater treatment plants, water desalination plants and water
distribution utilities) constitute major elements of the water resource management scope
in Jordan and enhancing their effective performance and resilience to climate change
impacts is a priority for strengthening the adaptive capacity of the whole sector. Protecting
water utilities from adverse impacts of climate change, and reducing their environmental
impacts is a major objective for enhancing the sustainability of water infrastructure and
this can be achieved by the following actions:
1. Conducting climate-proofing studies for existing water utilities and integration of
climate proofing tools for planned water utilities through developing climate
resilient water safety plans, Environmental Impact Assessment and other legally
binding environmental management tools.
2. Creation of map for flash flood prone area as a tool for risk assessment to guide
decision makers about the proper location for establishing new water utilities.
3. Enhancing performance and efficiency of water utilities through technological
improvements and capacity development for reducing water loss.
4. Enhancing community engagement and stakeholder management approaches
through WASH, to strengthen social cohesion and trust between community and
water utilities in service delivery and community climate adaptation initiatives.
5. Adoption of Climate Resilience Water Safety and Security Planning as a tool to
identify adaptation measures at utility level.
4.1.4 Improved efficiency in water use for sustainable development
In a future where climate change will multiply the expected scarcity of water resources in
Jordan due to increased population growth and economic development it becomes
essential that water efficiency measures become a necessary approach in water
management to enhance climate resilience and improve productivity of water use. Some
key actions are the following:
 36

1. Promote water-harvesting techniques at all levels of economic development and

water use (buildings, agriculture, industry, etc…) based on suitable local
conditions.
2. Introducing water saving technologies in irrigation schemes such as drip, micro-
spray, and night irrigation with careful consideration of environmental impacts on
soil salinization.
3. Enhancing the use of water efficiency technology at household and business levels
in urban and rural settings
4. Enhancing the adaptive capacity of small farmers in Jordan Valley through water
user associations for increasing use of reclaimed water for irrigation purposes.
5. Increasing community awareness, behavioral change and adoption of water
conservation measures through WASH centered community behavioral change
initiatives.

4.1.5 Improving contribution of non-conventional water resources to the

national water budget

With the ever decreasing availability of freshwater resources especially for drinking
purposes, it becomes a key strategic objectives to increase the contribution on non-
conventional water resources for augmentation of freshwater resources for irrigation,
industrial and domestic use. This contribution will help to save more freshwater resources
for drinking and sanitation practices that are associated with life at a warmer and more
disease prone world. Key actions to be taken include the following:
1. Promote the use of non-conventional water sources especially treated wastewater
for non-domestic water use
2. Increasing of the number and scope of use of decentralized wastewater treatment
plants in rural areas.
3. Promote desalination programmes for drinking water and irrigation
4. Promote rainwater harvesting in urban areas from rooftops and greywater reuse
both at the institution level and at household level to support vulnerable
households and communities
5. Encouraging water-substitution arrangements for decentralized wastewater
treatment solutions at clusters and sub-district levels

4.1.6 Improving rainfall early warning systems and reducing flood risks

One of the major acute threats of climate change in Jordan is represented by the
increasing frequency of flashfloods due to heavy and erratic rainfall that caused
immediate risks on lives, livelihoods, economic assets and infrastructures. With such
phenomena expected to increase in the future it is important to address this risk
systematically by implementing the following measures:
 37

1. Improving meteorological capacities in forecasting of long term and short term

weather conditions to enhance decision making regarding managing climate
related extreme weather risks.
2. Improving flood resilience through food risk management measures, by enhancing
flood mitigation infrastructure and measures to respond effectively to floods.
3. Development of flood risks maps for all urban and rural areas in Jordan and
identification of hotspots that require continuous monitoring, improved
infrastructure and emergency operations.
4. Developing supportive tools to provide insight and support advocacy into
balancing water demand and supply in a sustainable way using principles of risk,
competing uses, water security and assurance of supply
5. Identifying technological solutions to reduce climate-change induced evaporation
of major surface water basins.

4.1.7 Supporting watershed and basin level management of water

resources including transboundary water

As climate change impacts are witnessed at ecosystem levels especially targeting the
most vulnerable ones, it is imperative that water adaptation plans in Jordan are based on
a watershed or water basin management unit to integrate all elements of ecosystem
management. This approach includes all environmental elements, and conserving
ecosystem services provided by the watershed, which are threatened with climate change
impacts especially reduced precipitation and increased temperatures. Key measures to
be taken include:

1. Identifying the vulnerability of surface water basins to climate change and

developing required adaptation measures.
2. Identifying the vulnerability of groundwater basins to climate change and
developing required adaptation measures.
3. Rehabilitation and restoration of key watersheds in Jordan for enhanced retention
of surface water and recharge to groundwater.
4. Improving the quality of surface and groundwater by enforcing laws to prevent
dumping/pollution and/or incentives for cleanup and restoration of watersheds and
basins.
5. Ensuring a reliable supply of water to protect and restore critical water-related
ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
6. Developing pragmatic management plans for transboundary watersheds, which
are shared with neighboring countries and not sustainably or effectively protected
by political agreements.
 38

4.2 Agriculture and Food security

Agricultural production is closely tied to climate, making agriculture one of the most
climate-sensitive sector among other economic sectors. In fragile –modest Jordanian
agricultural sector, the climate impacts are immediate and are considered as an important
challenge because the majority of the rural population depends either directly or indirectly
on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The main climate related hazards to the agriculture sector are represented by
temperature increase, rainfall decrease and the shift in the rainy season and seasonal
alterations, heatwaves and extreme events especially the heavy rainfall and droughts.
These risks will potentially lead to several impacts on the agricultural sector such as the
reduction of rain-fed and irrigated crops productivity, livestock and beekeeping. In
addition, it will lead to a decline in land fertility and surface for agriculture and cattle.
Key strategic objectives and approaches to address climate change impacts in the
agricultural sector include:

4.2.1 Integrating Climate resilience in the policy and institutional reforms in

agricultural sector

Effective improvement of the institutional and policy frameworks of the agricultural sectors
is essential to address impacts of climate change. The main target of support should be
the Ministry of Agriculture and its associated institutions like the National Agricultural
Research Center (NARC).
Key measures proposed are:
1. Developing and implementing a climate change agriculture resilience investment
plan
2. Providing economic incentives for climate change mitigation and adaptation
programmes at farm levels
3. Activation of land use laws to prevent urban expansion on agricultural lands
4. Modification of policies and implementation of action plans with emphasis on socio-
economic strategies intended to meet the agricultural impacts of climate change
5. Enhancing the capacities of climate change related unit and directorates at Ministry
of Agriculture and NARC.

4.2.2 Improving drought management systems

Drought is one of the major risks of climate change impacting water and agriculture
sectors in Jordan. It constitutes mainly any strategic interventions to enhance the adaptive
capacity of the sector. This includes improving the institutional and technical capacities
of public institutions mandated with drought detection and management in Jordan to be
 39

able to provide early warning systems of incoming drought and enhancing readiness and
responsiveness to drought events. Some key measures are:

1. Enhancement of the effectiveness of the drought management system available

currently in the Ministry of Water and Ministry of Agriculture with direct linkages to
climate change adaptation and resilience.
2. Strengthen the financial resources available for compensation of farmers after
drought
3. Establishment of subsidy programmes to prevent the collapse of animal production
in drought condition
4. Use of farmers' indigenous knowledge and tradition to adapt to climate change
under drought conditions

4.2.3 Improving irrigation system efficiency

The major use of water resources for agriculture in Jordan is linked to irrigation. It is vital
to enhance the effectiveness of irrigation systems in Jordan through various interventions
at policy and practice levels including water harvesting, improving soil water storage
capacity, use of supplementary irrigation reduce soil erosion through community
management, use of Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA). Some key measure are:
1. Develop soil-water-plant monitoring programmes (e.g. crop/environment
forecasting, RS and GIS, lysimetric, etc)
2. Water harvesting techniques, maximizing treated waste water re-use in
agriculture, improving water use efficiency and the augmentation of drip irrigation
in irrigated areas
3. Improving soil water storage and retention to maximize plant water availability by
maximizing infiltration of rainfall
4. Use of supplemental irrigation from harvested rainwater in the critical stages of
crop growth achieved through on farm rainwater harvesting and management
system
5. Reduce soil erosion through community management, use of Ecosystem based
Adaptation (EbA) measures and harvesting of rainwater amongst small farmers in
rural areas

4.2.4 Shifting to water efficient crops

Responding to climate change impacts in Jordan requires an eventual and necessary

gradual shift to the use of water efficient crops and using efficient irrigation and cultivation
technologies in appropriate agricultural lands and suitable timeframes. Key suggested
measures include:

1. Introduce and diversify crops with low water requirements and high productivity in
addition to capacity withstanding in drought, saline, and heat conditions
 40

2. Modification of crops planting and harvesting dates through the production and
promoting an agro-climatic calendar

4.2.5 Supporting hydroponic and other water tolerant agricultural

productivity systems

Facing the threats of water scarcity and reduced water availability for agriculture requires
the shifting of technology use to modern techniques that minimize water use with special
focus on hydroponic agriculture by providing adequate regulations, technologies and
capacities to spread the use of this technology in Jordan. Key measures under this
objective include:
1. Promote the use of conservation agriculture (e.g. organic, biodynamic, zero and
minimum/ conservation tillage, fallow practices, etc)
2. Formation of community cooperatives which are responsible for the use of range
land and the grazing right
3. Increasing forage-livestock system, production and preservation
4. Dissemination of conservation agriculture to increase wheat and barley production
in dry areas using improved varieties

4.2.6 Enhancing productivity of rangeland management

Livestock breeding and rangeland management represent the key use of land in rural
areas in Jordan. The impacts of climate change are evident in reducing the productivity
of rangelands and increasing the risks of desertification. It is important to introduce
climate resilient rangeland management options in the Jordanian Badia and other
semiarid rangelands to protect rangeland productivity through sustainable use options
and community participation. Key measures include:
1. Supporting diversification of livelihoods and income in rangeland areas
2. Improving sustainable management of grazing reserves
3. Identification of the best locations for implementation of Hima concepts in
rangeland and arid land management
4. Transitioning from open grazing in Badia to on-farm fattening or concentrated
farming systems for small ruminants with the adoption of balanced feed for
fattening and milk processing technologies and marketing

4.2.7 Improving sustainable productivity of food chains

There is a great importance of the contribution of the agricultural sector to food security
and self-sufficiency under climate change conditions and against emergency conditions
like COVID-19 and possible emerging pandemics. Agricultural production and marketing
value chain should be modified to ensure the continuity of affordable and sufficient food
production to domestic markets while adapting to climate related challenges. This
 41

requires promoting efficiencies in the food chain and the reduction of post-harvest losses
and food waste in a sustainable manner, increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use, and
improving livestock productivity.

4.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Ecosystems in Jordan are varied but vulnerable. There is a wide difference in ecosystems
and habitats in a small geographical areas but extensive land use, habitat destruction and
growth of urban centers has been an increasing threat to biodiversity. Results of the
vulnerability assessment conducted in the TNC for terrestrial ecosystems showed that
the highest vulnerable ecosystems are forests (especially in the north) and fresh water
(especially in Jordan rift valley), which highlighted the priority to perform adaptation
interventions within these two ecosystems. However, a more detailed and updated
vulnerability assessment for ecosystems and ecosystem services in Jordan is highly
needed.
Addressing key threats of climate change to biodiversity requires the following strategic
approaches.

4.3.1 Increasing the scope of ecosystem based adaptation and climate-based

planning in protected areas and special conservation areas

There is a vital need to introduce and enhance Nature Based Solutions (NBS) for climate
change adaptation and sustainable use of ecosystem services. This would include the
identification and implementation of appropriate Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) tools
especially in Protected Areas and Special Conservation Areas under adequate
management before replicating these solutions in other areas in Jordan. Key measures
under this objective include:
1. Conducting a comprehensive review of the National Network of Protected Areas.
The revision will aim at identifying/validating climate-vulnerable ecosystems,
extending conservation efforts in PA-surroundings and designing buffer zones as
deemed necessarily for strengthening the adaptive capacities of key ecological
hotspots
2. Identify and map ‘climate-vulnerable’ species of flora and fauna and their habitat
including connections with the need to control invasive species, and create a
national plan and monitoring system to support climate vulnerable species
3. Prepare adaptive management programmes for climate sensitive habitats in
protected areas and special conservation areas.
4. Protect watersheds and forests to sustain surface water flow and improved
groundwater reserves
5. Implement ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation to protect, maintain, and
restore degraded habitats with active community
 42

4.3.2 Using green infrastructure and community participation for ecosystem

rehabilitation and restoration

Green infrastructure is becoming a key effective tool for managing ecosystems and
natural resources in both urban and rural areas. It is important to introduce and implement
green infrastructure options for habitat restoration and rehabilitation in climate sensitive
areas. Green infrastructure approach is a labor intensive and highly sustainable option
that can provide solutions that provide job opportunities while protecting ecosystem
services through nature based solutions. Key measures under this objective include:
1. Restoration programmes of key sensitive habitats such as forests and coral reefs
in the collaboration with NGOs and local communities
2. Strengthen the role of private sector in allocating their Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) to support green infrastructure measures related to
ecosystems and biodiversity adaptation activities
3. Gather, compile, document and analyze the traditional local knowledge on
ecosystems and biodiversity in relation to climate forecasting to be used in
developing participatory community-based green infrastructure adaptation
programmes

4.3.3 Enhancing the adaptive capacity of ecosystem services against extreme and
long term climate change impacts

Modern management tools for sustainable use and planning for ecosystems requires the
use of ecosystem services approach. Using this approach is vital to enhance the adaptive
capacities of ecosystems and habitats to climate change impacts, based on the following
measures:
1. Develop a national plan for mitigating forests fires incidents including the
identification of hazards, training, resources allocation, awareness and knowledge
raising and engagement of civil society organizations
2. Protect wetlands and major watershed areas vulnerable to climate change and
enhance law enforcement measures
3. Establish protection measures to ensure minimizing extreme events effects on
vulnerable ecosystems
4. Conceptual framework combining silvi-cultural, ecological and community-based
approaches for afforestation & honeybee foraging

4.3.4 Improving conservation measures and enforcement for climate threatened

species and habitats

Despite long term implementation of conservation plans in Jordan in the last few decades
there has not been a comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability of threatened
 43

species and habitats to climate change. This is an essential step that aims at identifying
the key climate sensitive habitats and species in Jordan and developing special
conservation measures that take into considerations changes in climate conditions and
niches of the different sensitive species to protect them from extinction. Key measures
proposed in this strategic objective are:
1. Update and identify key ecosystems that are highly sensitive to climate change
2. Establish a clear research design to target indicator species of fauna, flora and
ecosystems in order to better understand the climate effects and apply adaptation
measures
3. Develop a recovery and restoration plans for highly threatened ecosystems and
species of fauna and flora including the development of clear ex-situ conservation,
captive breeding programmes and re-introduction and restoration programmes
4. Strengthen enforcement of planning and biodiversity conservation legal and
institutional frameworks, most notably within the Environment Impact Assessment
process

4.3.5 Improving conservation measures against emergence and spread of

zoonotic infectious diseases

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the high risk of spreading infectious zoonotic
diseases from animals to human through direct interaction under conditions of climate
change, increased human settlements and interactions with wild species. This strategic
approach aims at anticipating and addressing the serious threat arising from the potential
of spreading of zoonotic diseases to human populations due to climate change impacts.
Key proposed measures are:

1. Mapping of all critical habitats that include the presence of species that could act
as vectors for zoonotic viral diseases and continuous monitoring of such habitats
to minimize the risk of the appearance of more animal transmitted infectious
diseases in the future.
2. Improving habitat connectivity by linking existing protected areas and designing
new ones in areas identified as possible animal-human interactions.

4.3.6 Improving field research and monitoring of ecosystem vulnerability to climate

change

There is a great need at the scientific research level for improving the scientific research
capacities for observation of ecosystem changes due to climate change and analyzing
ecosystem, habitats and species' vulnerability to climate change in Jordan and generating
field data as a supportive evidence. The following measures implemented under this
 44

objective will provide adequate information for decision makers and managers to take the
right decisions at the right time:

1. Conduct research studies and monitoring programmes on climate change impacts

on terrestrial and marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
2. Strengthen the current capacities of research institutes’ for conducting research
on climate change impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity at marine and
terrestrial parts
3. Establish a comprehensive programme to monitor climate change impacts on key
ecosystems and biodiversity with a focus on using technologies such as GIS
4. Conduct research studies on impact of increased CO2 on natural ecosystems and
biodiversity and its effects on biomass production, and invasive alien species
5. Strengthen national research institutions, universities and other NGOs working in
the field of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation for facilitation of
multidisciplinary research on climate change impact on this sector
6. Increase and mobilize resources available for the implementation, monitoring and
enforcement of the NBSAP

4.4 Health
The main climate related hazards to health sector are represented by temperature and
precipitation. The scale of health impacts from climate change will depend primarily on
the size, density and wealth of the population. Exposure to heat or cold waves could have
impacts on mortality rates, communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases.
Based on the National Climate Change and Health Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan,
which was developed by the Ministry of Health in 2012, six climate-sensitive health issues
were identified including air-borne and respiratory diseases, water and food-borne
diseases, vector-borne diseases, nutrition, heat waves, and occupational health.
Climate change effects on respiratory diseases will includes chronic respiratory diseases
such as bronchial asthma. The increase in temperature due to climate change is likely to
be associated with increased survival and abundance of microorganisms; thus, increased
water and food-borne diseases. The expected decrease in precipitation will lead to
decreased availability of water, which may lead to the consumption and use of unsafe
(contaminated) water for drinking and other uses.
Many recent studies have linked the emergence of COVID-19 outbreak with the impacts
of climate change and the closer associations between humans and animals as well as
degradation of habitats. It is expected that diseases that are more infectious can emerge
due to climate change impacts. This threat needs to be addressed seriously at national
and global levels.
Following are the priority strategic objectives for adaptation in the health sector:
 45

4.4.1 Improved understanding of the potential risk on health sector due to climate
change

After COVID-19 and the possibility of having emerging infectious diseases due to climate
change it is important to enhance collective knowledge about the potential and observed
impacts of climate change on health conditions for individuals and communities. The
objective should mobilize related institutions and experts to conduct studies and
observations of climate impacts on health in terms of changing climate conditions or the
emergence of climate related infectious diseases in Jordan. Key measures under this
objective are:
1. Updating the climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment
(V&A) that was conducted in 2012
2. Educating and informing the public of the needed measures to protect health from
the adverse impacts of climate change
3. Developing climate-informed disease control programs and surveillance systems
using meteorological services targeting climate-sensitive diseases
4. Introducing new indicators that are useful for protecting health, such as Air Quality
Index, UV index, in cooperation with the relevant institutions
5. Developing new methods and tools for preparing for, coping with, and recovering
from outbreaks of climate-sensitive diseases, such as early warning systems
based on environmental information
6. Carrying out a baseline assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of the health
system (or health care facilities), including supply chains.
7. Developing an action plan which sets out how Jordan will develop a sustainable
low carbon health system (including supply chains) which also considers the role
the health sector that can play in reducing exposure to air pollution through its
activities and its actions
8. Reducing emissions that are under the direct control of the health sector to reach
net zero health sector emissions by 2050.

4.4.2 Enhancing the adaptive capacity of the health sector

Under current and future climate change conditions it is a high priority for the health sector
in Jordan to complement the national efforts to strengthen the capacity of the health sector
to address the impacts of COVID-19 with additional knowledge and capacity to contain
the current and expected health impacts resulting from climate change either through
extreme weather impacts or the possibility of spreading of climate related infectious
diseases. Key measures include:

1. Establishing an early warning system to trigger prompt public health intervention

when certain variables exceed a defined threshold
 46

2. Building the capacity of public health and health care professionals to monitor,
diagnose, and treat cases of climate-sensitive health outcomes, even when they
change their incidence, seasonality, and geographic range

4.5 Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction

The main climate related hazards to the urban sector are represented by severe wind,
increased or decrease in temperature, heavy rainfall, snow and drought events.
Vulnerabilities increase when infrastructure utilities and systems are subject to multiple
stresses, beyond climate change alone; especially for those that are located in areas
vulnerable to extreme weather events, as well as areas stressed by age and those near
particularly climate-sensitive environmental features, such as coastlines, rivers, storm
tracks and vegetation. However, further studies are still required to understand the impact
of climate change on urban sector in Jordan.

In large urban areas where systems are interdependent, ripple effects may surface as
one system shuts down causing disturbances in the flow of other systems, services,
economic and social aspects of everyday life. The urban systems are vulnerable to
extreme weather events that are becoming more intense, frequent, and/or longer lasting
due to climate change. It is also vulnerable to climate change impacts on regional
infrastructures (that are outdated and threatened) on which they depend for daily
subsistence, and it will be affected by disruptions occurring in relatively distant locations
due to linkages through national infrastructure networks and the national economy. These
effects will be especially problematic for parts of the population who have the higher
vulnerability because of their limited coping capacities.

Jordan has been affected by many types of climate related disasters (flash floods,
landslides, rock falls and droughts) which are becoming more frequent events that cause
losses of lives and costs millions of economic losses every year in different parts of the
country.

4.5.1 Supporting urban green infrastructure interventions for climate resilience

Using green infrastructure interventions in urban areas is a key approach in climate

change adaptation and is gaining high momentum around the world. With about 80% of
population of Jordan living in urban areas such interventions should be innovative and
widespread to enhance urban resilience. Some of the key measures proposed include:

1. Preserve natural watercourses in urban areas through streaming flow and

exploring the potential for creating new water courses.
2. Introduce climate responsive building techniques and elements to reduce the effect
of heat and reduce demand on energy for cooling
3. Ensure that land use planning in urban areas considers the impacts of climate
change and the need to sustain urban ecosystem services
4. Promote Rainwater Harvesting in urban areas from rooftops
 47

5. Establishing recreational parks developed and managed by community-based

organizations (CBOs)
6. Providing incentives for rooftop farming in urban areas

4.5.2 Improving readiness for climate related disaster risk reduction in urban areas

Climate related disasters, especially flash floods could are expected to increase in the
next few years and decades. It is of the highest priority to enhance institutional readiness
of municipalities and community organization to anticipate and manage climate related
disaster and risks, especially in the form of floods in urban areas. Key measures proposed
include:
1. Mapping of flood prone areas in cities and designing alternative runoff routes to
minimize risks.
2. Continuous maintenance of rainwater collection and drainage systems to allow
proper drainage in cities in times of flashfloods.

4.5.3 Enhancing community participation at local urban level for climate change
resilience

Any climate adaptation planning in urban areas should include an organic integration of
communities in all phases of participatory planning and implementation. There is a
strategic need for enhancing institutional and coordination conditions to improved
community participation in identification and addressing climate change impacts at
community level in urban areas. Key proposed measures include:

1. Use of existing local based organizations and neighborhood networks to identify

and respond to climate risks in urban areas based on participatory consultation
and supporting joint actions.
2. Mandating urban municipalities to lead community based initiatives for responding
to climate risks through institutional restructuring and capacity development.

4.5.4 Improving building efficiency for adapting to increased heat in urban centers

The impacts of heat and increased temperature are highly felt in heat Islands in cities and
urban areas and in buildings. Adapting to climate change impacts in urban areas starts
at homes, commercial activities, offices and working environment. There is a priority need
for improving resilience of buildings to climate change impacts through better insulation,
sustainable cooling and energy efficiency measures among other interventions. Key
measures include:
 48

1. Promote the use of energy saving devices, and raise awareness on the long-term
benefits of energy efficiency and saving devices
2. Amendments to sector policies and regulations, such as building codes, to reflect
climate change risks and direct people towards insulating buildings to reduce
energy demand

4.6 Coastal Zone Management

The main climate related hazards to coastal areas in Jordan are represented by increased
sea surface temperature, precipitation, and CO2 concentration in seawater. Extreme
rainfall events or droughts in the upstream terrestrial areas will lead to serious run off and
flooding events that will affect the coastal areas and marine life at Aqaba. The northern
parts of Aqaba are the most vulnerable regions for flashflood hazards since they are
located downstream from areas of major wadis, which discharge water into the Gulf of
Aqaba, and will affect areas that contain most of the town residential expansion.

The increase in water temperature will increase the ability of certain alien species to be
established at the Gulf of Aqaba. An increase in mean sea surface temperature will cause
changes as sea temperature and CO2 concentration favor algal blooms in combination
with increased nutrient run-off, which could lead to critical changes in ecosystems and
species diversity.

Increased CO2 fertilization will lead to decreased seawater pH or “increased sea

acidification” which will lead to negative impacts on coral reefs “bleaching” and other pH
sensitive organisms.

The impact of climate hazards on coastal areas could have socioeconomic effects where
any sea level raise or any changes to the sea surface temperature and CO 2 concentration
level at the Gulf of Aqaba, then, potential property losses might occur due to the loss of
terrain, biodiversity and ecosystems. It could be important to pay attention to the
geographical situation of infrastructure such as hotels and factories with respect to the
Gulf of Aqaba and seashores as it might be damaged. In addition, other socioeconomic
effects might be occurred such as increase risk of diseases, economical losses in means
of tourism attraction level due to the loss of biodiversity, ecosystem and its goods and
services, loss of fisheries or changing its distribution along the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba

4.6.1 Enhancing the sustainable use of marine protected area for climate change
adaptation

Marine protected areas constitute the key management tools for conservation of marine
biodiversity in Jordan, with particular emphasis on Aqaba. There is a need for enhancing
management structures and objectives of marine protected areas to improve resilience
to climate change as an integral component of its management plans. Key proposed
measures include
 49

1. Conduct site-specific research on the carrying capacity for critical and marine
protected area.
2. Modification of management plan of the Aqaba marine reserve to include climate
change adaptation measures.

4.6.2 Support resilience of coral reefs to climate change impacts

The unique structure of Coral Reefs in Aqaba, being the most northerly situation of corals
in the world makes the Gulf of Aqaba an area of international importance for coral reefs
that require special protective measures against all threats including climate change. It
is important to increase the resilience of coral reefs habitats in Aqaba to the observed
and potential impacts of climate change including coral bleaching and increasing acidity
of marine water. Key proposed measures include:
1. Increase knowledge of factors determining resilience and adaptive capacity of the
Reef ecosystem to climate change.
2. Increase the capacity of Reef managers to maximize reef resilience and adaptive
capacity through application of research outcomes

4.6.3 Use of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) for enhancing resilience
of marine ecosystems

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is the most effective management tool for
coastal areas as it targets a holistic management scheme for all natural and built elements
of coastal areas including impacts of climate change. It is tool for marine environment
protection as well as increased resilience to climate change impacts in both Aqaba and
the Dead Sea. Key measures to be implemented under this objective includes:
1. Enhance and strengthen awareness programmes on climate change impacts on
coastal areas, and empower communities to cope with its adverse effects
2. Identify vulnerable ecosystems to extreme events at the Gulf of Aqaba, and
prepare the necessary response and emergency strategies
3. Include climate change requirements in the Environmental Impact Assessment
conditions for coastal development
4. Create a central database that includes potential climate change adaptation
strategies, plans, programmes and measures applied as well as investments made
at Aqaba. This database should be freely accessible by the public and interested
organizations
5. Avoid marine pollution from land sources in the Gulf of Aqaba in order to reduce
the stress on coral reef and make them less vulnerable
 50

4.6.4 Improving monitoring capacities for the state of marine ecosystems

There is a big need to improve the existing scientific research and management
capacities for monitoring of environmental indicators for the health of marine ecosystems
in terms of climate change vulnerability and impacts in both the Gulf of Aqaba and the
Dead Sea. Key measures include
1. Enhance current monitoring stations at Aqaba, increase their numbers and ensure
a continuous flow of information adding sea level raise to its parameters
2. Strengthen database on coastal areas ecosystems, habitats and species
3. Strengthen the early warning systems
4. Monitor sea level rise along the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba

4.7 Cultural Heritage and Tourism

Jordan has over 100,000 archeological places, with 15,500 sites formally documented
and registered, in addition to a rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage. This wealth
of cultural heritage assets is a significant contributor to its economic and development
goals through tourism (which alone made up 15 percent of Jordan’s GDP in 2019),
services, handicrafts and the cultural industries (museums, art and music, film production
etc.). They are also components of national values, identity and social cohesion.

Several of the expected impacts of climate change will have a detrimental effect on
cultural heritage. Increased temperatures will damage fragile rock structures, particularly
sandstone, in which the monuments of Petra are carved. Extreme weather phenomena
will also inflict significant damage to archeological sites, and built heritage including
manuscripts and artifacts contained in some of them. Increased evaporation will alter
humidity levels and will impact sites like Qusayr Amra, Petra, and the churches of northern
Jordan where murals and wall paintings will suffer from corrosion, mold and salt damage.
There is significant loss and often irreversible damage to cultural heritage as a result of
climate induced fires, winds, draughts and changes in precipitation, flooding and extreme
weather phenomena.

Climate change in equal measure causes change, damage and loss to intangible cultural
heritage. The decline and disappearance of vegetation, plant and animal species
changes important cultural practices, food systems and traditional culinary skills,
medicinal herbs and traditions, and most importantly the loss of food security. Climate
induced damage and loss results in a change in people’s relationship with each other,
with the land and with the places they identify with. This causes an evolution in the sense
of identity and values, and a loss of traditional stories, rituals and traditions that are no
longer set in an identifiable cultural landscape.
 51

The Ministry of tourism has initiated a green growth plan for the tourism sector that is
focused on resource efficiency and sustainability, which could be strengthened with the
integration of responding to climate change impacts within this strategy.

Key measures that can be implemented for enhancing the resilience of cultural heritage
to climate change in Jordan

4.7.1 Enhancing the adaptive capacity of cultural heritage sites and infrastructure

1. Initiatives and studies to provide the required data and improve understanding of
each heritage resource and its vulnerability to climate change;
2. To develop and mainstream sustainable policies and plans for climate-change
adaptation of built and archeological heritage;
3. To develop and mainstream policies and plans for protection and climate-change
adaptation of intangible cultural heritage and for the support of local communities
whose livelihoods and wellbeing depend on cultural heritage resources;
4. To exploit the opportunities for built and archaeological heritage and for
intangible heritage to demonstrate value and secure resources
5. To improve engagement and coordination among the various stakeholders in the
field, including government and nongovernmental organizations as well as
international institutions.

4.7.2 Integration of climate adaptation measures in the tourism supply chain and
infrastructure

1. Introduction of water saving measures and systems in the tourism infrastructure

landscape in Jordan especially hotels and restaurants.

2- Safeguarding tourism sites from the impacts of climate change, especially floods and
heatwaves through climate proofing studies for existing sites and climate impact
prevention for sites to be constructed.

4.8 Socioeconomic impacts

The impacts of climate change are not restricted to natural systems or development
sectors only but have a huge impact on the human and societal systems including social
welfare and economic prosperity but increasing the challenges faced by humans as
individuals and communities in accessing key resources and rights for improved
livelihoods. Vulnerable communities are more at risk of social and economic dimensions
of climate change compared to middle classes or wealthy parts of the community.

The vulnerability of a society to climate risks such as drought, for instance, depends on
several factors such as demography, technology, policy, social behavior, land use
patterns, water use, economic development, and diversity of economic base and cultural
 52

composition. Individual (or household) vulnerability is determined by the access to

financial resources and the diversity of income sources, as well as by social status of
individuals or households within a community.

Some of the most vulnerable social groups to the impacts of climate change are poor,
women, children, disabled, refugees and the unemployed. Adaptation measures to
climate change in Jordan should take into consideration all social and economic
dimensions, including the following actions:

4.8.1 Integrating climate resilience in green economic recovery and development

plans

All national development and economic plans should address with deep analysis and
serious attention the need to include climate change impacts and design a paradigm shift
in economic and social development planning to respond to such impacts through the
following actions:

1. Exploring innovative financing options for addressing climate adaptation and

resilience projects and programmes with the reduction of availability of domestic
resources.
2. Explore green economy, circular economy and green innovation as a way to
create new and sustainable jobs in the growing green sector (energy, water,
waste, agriculture etc.), especially for young people.
4.8.2 Enhancing local adaptive capacity to climate change impacts through local
climate action plans

Adaptation measures should start at the local level and then being scaled up to national
levels at many areas of intervention, especially while addressing vulnerability to climate
change at the level of municipalities, towns and villages. Interactive community
participation is a vital tool for supporting the following actions:

1. Engagement of local community in planning and designing of local climate change

adaptation plans (community participatory approach)
2. Enhance climate related basic services to rural and vulnerable communities to
reduce the negative impact of expected climate change effects
3. Supporting the enhancement of adaptive capacities at local and community levels
as a key step in enabling local institutions to allocate resources and knowledge in
local adaptation programmes
4. Enhancing the functions and accuracy of early warning systems against floods,
droughts and other climate risks in poverty-stricken areas.
5. Inclusion of climate vulnerability and adaptation measures in municipal and
regional land use and masterplans.
 53

4.8.3 Integrating climate adaptation into national poverty reduction policies

National poverty reduction plans remain to be the main tools for addressing poverty
challenges in Jordan through establishment of social support systems and dealing with
deep rooted poverty causes such as unemployment. However, in a changing climate it is
now pivotal to address climate resilience and climate adaptation measures in
socioeconomic development plans with special emphasis on poverty reduction plans and
improving services and sustainable livelihoods for communities in poverty-stricken areas.
The following actions represent key areas of interventions:

1. Improving the existing social protection system to cope with climate change
consequences and serve Jordanian segments of society including the poor,
orphans, elderly, abused women and children among other vulnerable groups and
individuals
2. Adopting poverty fight programmes fostering providing housing for poor people
and supporting micro-projects for poor communities in light of unusual severe
seasonal cold and hot weather conditions prevailed in the last decade
3. Developing emergency relief and aid for areas and communities that are under
threat of climate risks.

4.8.4 Mobilization of social capital for climate change adaptation

Addressing climate change risks would never be successful without adequate and
effective mobilization of all dimensions of social capital in Jordan with special focus on
youth. Proposed actions under this objective include:

1. Investing in youth as a future decision makers and key stakeholders that will
contribute to adaptation to climate change through awareness and empowerment
tools.
2. Enhancing capacity of Ministry of Social Development staff to design and deliver
climate resilient services to women and the poor
3. Enhancing leadership capacity of community-based groups (CBOs) to address
climate change
4. Developing an inventory of climate resilient traditional techniques in natural
resources management in water and agriculture sectors and utilizing traditional
knowledge for local adaptation measures.

4.8.5 Integration of human rights values and enhancing climate adaptive capacities
of vulnerable groups:

Human rights protection and the need to enhance the adaptive capacities of most
vulnerable groups in Jordan are key principles for climate adaptation objectives in Jordan.
The integration of human rights with climate change adaptation will safeguard the
sustainability and inclusiveness of adaptation measures with ensuring the need to act first
to support the most vulnerable groups. Key activities to be taken include:
 54

1. Identification through science based evidence and in-depth social and environmental
analysis of the current and potential impacts of climate change on most vulnerable groups
in Jordan including women, children, poor, disabled and the unemployed.

2- Development of a human rights guidelines and indicators for climate adaptation plans
and projects with effective implementation and monitoring tools through policy and legal
frameworks.

4.8.6 Integrating climate change impacts and adaptation into education curricula

Education is one of the most powerful tools for positive change in Jordan which has
always invested heavily in enhancing educational infrastructure, learning systems and
maximizing the potential of students. Understanding the causes, impacts and solutions
for climate change is now a priority area for education to prepare student to take active
roles in addressing climate change impacts. Some proposed actions are:
1. Raising awareness and engagement through formal and informal education
means in climate change, environment and sustainable development in the
community and among children and young people
2. Developing an enhanced, unified, common entry level education curriculum that
includes new themes on climate change and environment (Raising Climate and
Environmental awareness > contextualized materials for Jordan to be
disseminated through a) social media b) informal settlements, c) schools d) youth
centers and youth innovation incubators)

5. Synergies and Co-benefits

Jordan faces potential serious climate change impacts on its natural ecosystems and
water resources cascading to impacts on food productivity, water availability, human
health, public infrastructure and human settlements. Adding to that, the difficult regional
situation is creating enormous pressure on the infrastructure and national economy.
Therefore implementing the current NDC will not only reduce the national greenhouse
gases, but will also ensure the essential cross cutting themes of the sustainable
development pathway of the country such as, poverty reduction, employment creation,
gender equality, women empowerment, and youth inclusion with the climate change
adaptation and mitigation objectives. For instance, the water sector measures that target
the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture contribute to adaptation goals of saving
freshwater resources, and promoting the use of non-conventional water resources to
strengthen the adaptive capacity of the communities, will secure positive impacts on the
income of the rural communities and women workers in agriculture, creating job
opportunities along the supply chain in addition to the mitigation impact occurred with the
wastewater treatment technologies. Other adaptation measures would add more co-
 55

benefits such as the ecosystem rehabilitation and restoration which aims at protecting
ecosystem services through nature based solutions while providing job opportunities and
strengthening the role of the private sector in allocating their Corporate Social
Responsibility.

Likewise, to promote the implementation of the mitigation interventions targeting the

renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in the energy sector incorporate social
development through accessing affordable and reliable energy services, boosting the
investment opportunities, creating job opportunities, in addition to alleviate the burden of
the national budget. For instance, the government implement solar water pumps project
in hundreds of farms in different governorates. The project not only achieve the reduction
in greenhouse gases but also add knowledge to the farmers on saving resources using
cost-effective technologies.

Jordan recognizes that both mitigation and adaptation are essential for building climate-
resilient pathways and strengthening the co-benefits of the synergies will contribute to a
better allocation of financial and institutional resources for the implementation of the NDC.

6. Monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV)

Jordan developed a multi-tiered integrated MRV system that covers the public sector
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The system acts as a database for GHG
emissions at project, ministry, sectoral and national levels. However it is currently covers
the RE and EE projects, but it was planned to be fully functional with the registry of climate
mitigation measures by the end of the year 2020 covering transport and waste sectors in
addition to the energy sector which was not done because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The system was designed to serve in tracking progress in NDC implementation by
generating the final data in a standard format reports available in graphics and tables.
Figure (6.1) illustrates the MRV system functions that serve the key stakeholders to
measure and report their RE and EE projects with various access levels according to their
authority at the project, institution, sectoral, and national level.
 56

• Input: Project Registry (add project) and annual report

Project level

•QA/QC : project workflow (project operator project manager ministry user external Verifier
(if available) this include validation of submitted reports, and third party verification
•Processing: project calculation (using the predefined equation at the MRV system ,project
Ministry parameters that filled at the annual reports and the related indicators)
level

•Input: sectoral indicators

•Processing: data aggregation for project information's and calculation results results related to
specific sector at the sectoral level
Sectoral •Output: sectoral reports (reports from MRV system related to specific sector)
Level

•Input: national indicators, GHG inventory ,GHG projections

•QC: indicator management (approving indicators values for all sectoral and national indicators)
•Processing: data aggregation for project information's and calculation results for national level for
National all sectors
•Output: national reports (national reports from MRV system for all sectors
level

Figure (6.1): Roles and Functions of stakeholders at different levels.

The key stakeholders who are involved in the domestic MRV functions at different
access levels are illustrated in Figure (6.2).
 57

Figure (6.2): The key stakeholders of the domestic MRV system.

7. Means of Implementation
The economy-wide NDC target included as a commitment in this updated NDC indicates
that the government has opportunities across various sectors to achieve the country’s
NDC ambition. However considerable efforts would be required to support the
government to meet the reduction ambition in the light of the existed capacity, technology
and finance barriers and challenges.

To fulfil the country’s commitments under Paris Agreement, the following are the efforts
achieved and support needs for building the capacities, technology transfer and finance
required to drive the NDC implementation process:
 58

7.1 Capacity building

Climate change is a cross cutting issue which requires building the capacities and the
institutional frameworks to create the long-term commitment for public and private
sectors, civil society and communities in general. Jordan considers NDC implementation
as an opportunity for building the required skills, knowledge and the institutional
coordination mechanisms at different levels in various climate actions. The government,
lately, provided the required training for specific stakeholder groups in energy sector to
improve the performance of the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system, in
addition to building the capacity of the Statistical Department to track the NDC
implementation. And at the sectoral level, for actions under waste and water for irrigation
sectors, the government is planning to enhance the implementation of climate actions
through executing a variety of activities including, but not limited to, improving the
stakeholders’ skills in preparing full proposals ready to be submitted to international
climate-funds and assessing the level of engagement of the local private sector and
financial institutions in NDC implementation.

As the capacity needs evolve with time so the country still have the following needs to be
supported;

 To improve the technical capacities for reporting requirements under the enhanced
transparency framework, namely the new biennial transparency report (BTR) and
Adaptation Communication, that were concluded from the CMAs decisions. These
requirements include improving data quality, completeness, accuracy and
documentation as well as the national capacities in GHG inventories.
 To build the technical capacity that is required to estimate the emissions of Short
Lived Climate Forcers (SLCFs) and the assessment of their climate impacts to
include them in the national inventories and mitigation measures as a way for
enhancing the NDC ambition in the future.
 To invest in building the capacities of the focal points acting in the technical groups
to support the NCCC to ensure improving competencies for future sustainability.
 To improve the institutional capacities between the line ministries to enforce the
existing regulatory framework to enable monitoring the implementation of the
NDCs.
 To expand the MRV system to other sectors to be the tool for monitoring, reporting
and verification of emissions and mobilized finance.
 The government pursues to fulfill the NDC pledges with the domestic and
international support and is interesting in building the national stakeholders
capacities in utilizing the international cooperative mechanisms in Article 6 of the
Paris Agreement to meet the national development and climate policy objectives.
 59

 To improve the scientific knowledge and tools for collecting and analyzing climate
data and variables leading to enhancing the climate projection modelling capacity
in Jordan with better downscaling of results as well as improving vulnerability
analysis for various adaptation related sectors.
 And for the future sustainability, there is a need for empowering a dedicated
national delegation to be able to participate effectively in the negotiations of the
provisions of the UNFCCC governing bodies. Likewise, to support the Youth role
to be able to engage in regional and international networks of the climate-dialogue
for Youth.

7.2 Technology transfer

The technology cost and suitability are of the key barriers that delays the effective
governmental response to climate change risks. For instance, the deployment of electric
buses in Jordan is limited by the cost of their technology, operation and infrastructure. In
waste management, the country implemented several pilot projects for waste separation
and recycling but still lacks the practical expertise and the resources to drive the required
modernization of the waste sector and to scale up interventions in order to mitigate climate
change, particularly in the separation and treatment of recyclables.

On the other hand, the government has recently prepared the Climate-Smart Agriculture
Action Plan which includes replacing some conventional practices with new technologies
to improve production, water consumption and to promote green energy technology.

As a cross cutting issue, concrete activities and pilot models for mainstreaming gender in
climate-actions including eco-tourism, solar energy, water management and organic
farming need to be implemented to advance the contribution of women in social
innovation and adaptive actions.
Jordan’s Green Growth Action Plan identified sectoral technologies that are still required
to tackle the climate change risks and to enhance the green economy as well in six key
sectors; energy, transport, waste, water, agriculture and tourism.

7.3 Finance
Jordan is a small open economy with limited resources and a population growth rate much
higher than the global average in the last decade due to the civil war in Syria which had
caused the massive influxes of refugees moved into Jordan. All this had created a
considerable burden on national and local systems and infrastructure which caused a
continuing deficit in the general budget. Moreover, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has
exacerbated the existing weaknesses in the economy and put extra pressure on the
 60

country’s fragile macroeconomic status. The country is currently planning to recover from
this pandemic, and aiming to use this opportunity to plan for a longer-term greater
resilience and sustainable recovery building on the existing national plans including the
NDC implementation. Jordan believes that the ambitious NDC’s target of 31% of GHG
emission reduction will contribute effectively to the country’s development while mitigating
the GHG emissions if the necessary financial support and other means of implementation
made available to the country. The estimated cost of mitigation actions to reach 31%
target is totaling USD billion 7.54 from which the government plans to secure USD Million
565 by its own means to meet the unconditional target.
Jordan committed to reduce the GHGs emissions by 5% by 2030 unconditionally,
therefore the country is focusing on strengthening the public financing institutions, namely
Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF) and Jordan
Environment Fund (JEF) to play a crucial role to co-financing local projects. JREEEF now
is active and has full and adequate institutional, technical, and financial capacity to
manage the Fund with a transparent and effective governance, a strategic business plan,
and financial support windows. However, JEF still requires adequate human, technical
and financial capability to contribute to mitigation actions.

On the other hand, to accelerate the achievement of the NDC the government assumes
that the mobilization of the private investment can play an effective role in NDC
implementation. As part of the country’s drive to strengthen partnership with the private
sector, the Government has provided incentives to the private sector to invest in
infrastructure projects by establishing electricity generation projects. Build-Own-Operate
(BOO) and Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) power generation projects have been expanded
with international and local companies alike.

Jordan commits to reduce the GHGs emissions by an additional 26% by 2030 subject to
availability of international financial support. Therefore, the government is working to
make the support needs clear by preparing the country-program with the Green Climate
Fund, and with the efforts achieved with the NDC Partnership to provide guidance for the
donors on the country’s priorities of mitigation and adaptation actions in key sectors.
Furthermore, in order to effectively benefit from the available international and
development partners working on climate-related interventions, the government is
currently plan to bring them in together to reach common understanding between various
partners on how to coordinate their efforts and resources for maximization of quality and
focus of strategic objectives related to different climate programs while aligning to
government priorities, and developing a common roadmap and timeframe for efficient
partner coordination on NDC implementation.

Moreover, in order to fulfill the NDC’ pledges Jordan will explore the use of the
international cooperative mechanisms in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to meet national
 61

development and climate policy objectives while considering the environmental integrity
and the principles of transparency to avoid double counting.

8. Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU)

Para Guidance in decision 4/CMA.1 ICTU Guidance as applicable to
Jordan’s NDC

1 Quantifiable information on the reference point (including, as appropriate, a base year)

a Reference year(s), base year(s), reference  Base year for GHG emissions
period(S), or other starting point(s) projections is 2012
 The business-as-usual
(BAU)/Baseline scenario is
developed for the period (2012-
2030)

b Quantifiable information in the reference  GHG emissions levels of 2012 are

indicators, their values in the reference considered as the base year in this
year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) update
or other starting point(s), and, as  In 2012, Jordan contributed
applicable, in the target year 27997.73 Gg of CO2 eq or 27.99
million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 eq of
GHGs to the atmosphere.
Estimations are the total net
emissions of GHGs by Sources and
Removals by Sinks reported in the
National Inventory of Jordan’s First
Biennial Update report submitted to
the UNFCCC in 2017.
 The projected emissions under BAU
scenario is estimated to 43,989.0 Gg
CO2 eq in year 2030.

c For strategies, plans and actions referred Not applicable

to in Article 4, paragraph 6, of the Paris
Agreement, or policies and measures as
components of nationally determined
contributions where paragraph 1(b) above
is not applicable, Parties to provide other
relevant information

d Target relative to the reference indicator,  The estimated GHG emissions

expressed numerically, for example in reduction is 11269 Gg CO2 eq in year
percentage or amount of reduction 2030
 62

Para Guidance in decision 4/CMA.1 ICTU Guidance as applicable to

Jordan’s NDC

 The reduction target (31%)is divided

into conditional and unconditional as
“percentage of total reduction” as
follows:
- Conditional target: 26%
- Unconditional target: 5%

e Information on sources of data used in - National strategies (Energy, waste,

quantifying the reference point(s) water and Transport)
- Local Climate Action Plans
- Basic consumption and activity data
obtained from Annual reports of the
ministries, national entities and
Department of Statistics.
- Population and GDP: Department of
Statistics (DOS) and MoPIC
- Default emission factors reported in
2006 IPCC guidelines.
- Consultation with sectoral national
experts

f Information on the circumstances under Jordan estimated its national greenhouse

which the Party may update the values of gases inventory using the 2006 IPCC
the reference indicators guidelines and will continue to
communicate the national inventory
report of anthropogenic emissions using
good practice methodologies accepted
by the IPCC and agreed upon by the
CMA. The communication of the
subsequent reports of BURs will describe
the improvement in methodologies.

2 Time frames and/or periods for implementation

a Time frame and/or period for The implementation of this NDC will be in
implementation, including start and end the period 2020-2030.
date, consistent with any further relevant
Jordan builds this target on the already
decision adopted by the Conference of the
started efforts of actions and activities,
Parties serving as the meeting of the
and will continue to do so until 2030. The
Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA)
emissions projections of business as
usual scenario does not consider the
national strategies and actions after
 63

Para Guidance in decision 4/CMA.1 ICTU Guidance as applicable to

Jordan’s NDC

2012. All the actions implemented after

2012 are considered towards mitigation
scenario.

b Whether it is a single-year or multi-year The target is a single year for 2030

target, as applicable

3 Scope and coverage:

a General description of the target Jordan sets the target of achieving 31%
reduction of emissions by 2030. Which is
quantified to be 11269 Gg CO2 eq.

Jordan committed to reduce 5%

compared to the BAU scenario
unconditionally, and to reduce
conditionally an additional 26%
compared to BAU scenario if the
resources and means of implementation
are available.

b Sectors, gases, categories and pools Jordan’s GHG emissions by sources and
covered by the nationally determined removals by sink of all GHGs not
contribution, including, as applicable, controlled by Montreal Protocol had been
consistent with Intergovernmental Panel estimated using the 2006 IPCC
on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories.

Sectors: Jordan’s NDC is an economy

wide covers all the sectors including;
energy, Industrial processes and product
use, agriculture, forestry and land-use,
and waste.

Gases: The GHG inventory included

Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4),
Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

c How the Party has taken into Jordan’s used the 2006 IPCC Guidelines
consideration paragraph 31© and (d) of for National GHG Inventories. The
decision 1/CP.21 estimated GHG emissions include all the
sectors, namely; energy, IPPU, AFOLU
and waste.
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And Jordan will continue to include all

the categories of anthropogenic
emissions and removals in the
subsequent NDCs according to the
national capacities.

d Mitigation co-benefits resulting from (If it is mentioned in the adaptation

Parties’ adaptation actions and/or component then it could be referred to)
economic diversification plans, including
description of specific projects, measures
and initiatives of Parties’ adaptation
actions and/or economic diversification
plans.

4 Planning processes

(a) Information on the planning processes that the Party undertook to prepare its
nationally determined contribution and, if available, on the Party’s implementation
plans, including, as appropriate:

(i) Domestic institutional arrangements, NDC Updating Process:

public participation and engagement with
Jordan’s updated-NDC was developed
local communities and indigenous people,
through a participatory approach and
in a gender-responsive manner
based on the institutional structure
identified in the National Climate Change
Bylaw (No. 79, 2019). According to this
bylaw, Ministry of Environment is the chair
of the National Climate Change
Committee which consists of the 16
secretary generals from the line
ministries. And pursuant to the provisions
of this bylaw, Ministry of Environment is
entitled to lead the process of NDC
preparation and to follow up its
implementation including the sectoral
measures during the NDCs consecutive
cycles through the National Climate
Change Committee.

Stakeholder consultations were

conducted through the working groups
established by the Bylaw comprising
representatives from relevant sectoral
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agencies, academia, NGOs and the

private sector in a gender-responsive
manner.

NDC Action Plan:

To ensure that the updated-NDC is

achievable, it was built on the long
continuous efforts started with the support
from NDC-Partnership to develop the
economy-wide NDC Action Plan through
a comprehensive consultation process to
ensure the coherence with the national
sectoral plans. The Plan includes the
prioritized measures and projects at each
sector emerged from the national sectoral
strategies and action plans.

(ii) Contextual matters, including, inter alia, as Please refer to Section: National
appropriate: Circumstances of this NDC

National circumstances, such as

a
geography, climate, economy, sustainable
development and poverty eradication

Best practices and experience related to

the preparation of the nationally
b determined contribution

Other contextual aspirations and priorities

c acknowledged when joining the Paris
Agreement.

(b) Specific information applicable to Parties, Not applicable.

including regional economic integration
organizations and their member States,
that have reached an agreement to act
jointly under Article 4, paragraph 2, of the
Paris Agreement, including the Parties
that agreed to act jointly and the terms of
the agreement, in accordance with Article
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4, paragraphs 16-18, of the Paris

Agreement

( c) How the Party’s preparation of its Jordan will utilize the outcomes of the
nationally determined contribution has Global Stocktake to be issued by the
been informed by the outcomes of the UNFCCC, and will reflect its highest
global stocktake, in accordance with possible ambition in its successive NDCs
Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Paris in the light of national circumstances and
Agreement taking into account the principle of
common but differentiated
responsibilities with respective
capabilities.

(d) Each Party with a nationally determined Not applicable

contribution under Article 4 of the Paris
Agreement that consists of adaptation
action and/or economic diversification
plans resulting in mitigation co-benefits
consistent with Article 4, paragraph 7, of
the Paris Agreement to submit information
on:

How the economic and social

(i) consequences of response measures
have been considered in developing the
nationally determined contribution
Refer to Adaptation Section in this
Specific projects, measures and activities document.
(ii) to be implemented to contribute to
mitigation co-benefits, including
information on adaptation plans that also
yield mitigation co-benefits, which may
cover, but are not limited to, key sectors,
such as energy, resources, water
resources, coastal resources, human
settlements and urban planning,
agriculture and forestry; and economic
diversification actions, which may cover,
but are not limited to, sectors such as
manufacturing and industry, energy and
mining, transport and communication,
construction, tourism, real estate,
agriculture and fisheries.
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5 Assumptions and methodological approaches, including those for estimating and

accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as appropriate,
removals:

(a) Assumptions and methodological Metric:

approaches used for accounting for
 National activity data from national
anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
statistics and sectoral data-owners.
and removals corresponding to the Party’s
 The NDC reduction target is reported
nationally determined contribution,
in (GgCO2 eq).
consistent with decision 1/CP.21,
paragraph 31, and accounting guidance
GHG Inventory:
adopted by the CMA
 Jordan’s GHG Inventory was
estimated using the 2006 IPCC
Guidelines and default emission
factors.
 Global Warming Potential (GWP) on a
100-year timescale in accordance with
IPCC Second Assessment Report
(SAR) was being used in calculating
the CO2 equivalents.
(b) Assumptions and methodological  To implement all the mitigation and
approaches used for accounting for the adaptation measures included in this
implementation of policies and measures NDC, Jordan assumes that all the
or strategies in the nationally determined required finance, technology transfer
contribution and capacity building to be in place
during the period 2020-2030.
 Jordan assumes to provide regularly
the information necessary to track
progress made in implementing and
achieving the NDC according to
Article 13 of Paris Agreement.
 Jordan assumes to expand the
domestic MRV system to cover the
transport and waste sectors in the
short term.

( c) If applicable, information on how the Party Jordan’s anthropogenic emissions and

will take into account existing methods removals inventory was estimated
and guidance under the Convention to according to 2006 IPCC guidelines, and
account for anthropogenic emissions and will take into account in the future all the
removals, in accordance with Article 4, guidance and methods adopted by the
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paragraph 14, of the Paris Agreement, as Conference of the Parties serving as the
appropriate meeting of the Parties to Paris
Agreement (CMA).

(d) IPCC methodologies and metrics used for Metric:

estimating anthropogenic greenhouse gas
- National activity data from national
emissions and removals
statistics and sectoral data-owners.
GHG Inventory:

- Jordan’s GHG Inventory was

estimated based on the 2006 IPCC
Guidelines and bottom-up data
collection approach for all sectors,
while a top-down approach was
followed for the energy reference
approach.
- Tier 1 approach was used for all
sectors and sub-sectors using the
default emission factors.
- Global Warming Potential (GWP) on a
100-year timescale in accordance with
IPCC Second Assessment Report
(SAR) was being used in calculating
the CO2 equivalents
(e) Sector-, category- or activity-specific assumptions, methodologies and approaches
consistent with IPCC guidance, as appropriate, including, as applicable:

(i) Approach to addressing emissions and

subsequent removals from natural
disturbances on managed lands;

(ii) Approach used to account for emissions

and removals from harvested wood
products;

(iii) Approach used to address the effects of

age-class structure in forests

(f) Other assumptions and methodological

approaches used for understanding the
nationally determined contribution and, if
applicable, estimating corresponding
emissions and removals, including:
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(i) How the reference indicators, baseline(s) Refer to Mitigation Section of this
and/or reference level(s), including, where document.
applicable, sector-, category- or activity-
specific reference levels, are constructed,
including, for example, key parameters,
assumptions, definitions, methodologies,
data sources and models used;

(ii) For Parties with nationally determined

contributions that contain non-
greenhouse-gas components, information
on assumptions and methodological
approaches used in relation to those
components, as applicable;

(iii) For climate forcers included in nationally Non-methane volatile organic

determined contributions not covered by compounds (NMVOCs) emissions
IPCC guidelines, information on how the resulting from the solvents subsector
climate forcers are estimated; were estimated using European
Monitoring and Evaluation Program
(EMEP/EEA) air pollutant emission
inventory guidebook 2019.

(iv) Further technical information, as

necessary;

(g) The intention to use voluntary cooperation Jordan will explore the use of the
under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, if international cooperative mechanisms in
applicable. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to meet
national development and climate policy
objectives while considering the
environmental integrity, cost
effectiveness and the principles of
transparency to avoid double counting.

6 How the Party considers that its nationally determined contribution is fair and
ambitious in the light of its national circumstances:
(a) How the Party considers that its However Jordan is suffering from the
nationally determined contribution is development challenges, the limited
resources, and lately the COVID-19
pandemic and the socioeconomic impacts
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fair and ambitious in the light of its which all slowed down the economic
national circumstances; growth, but the country set an ambitious
target of the updated NDC relevance to its
national circumstances and available
capacities.

(b) Fairness considerations, including Jordan’s share of global carbon dioxide

reflecting on equity; emissions was 0.07% in year 2017 which
is very small in absolute terms, and the
CO2 metric tonnes per capita was 2.6
tonnes. ([Link]) However,
Jordan believes that the climate change
threat needs collaborative efforts to
strengthen the global response to achieve
the ultimate goal of the Paris Agreement.

(c ) How the Party has addressed Article 4, Jordan continues to promote the transition
paragraph 3, of the Paris Agreement; to new environment-friendly and clean
technology in different sectors in the light
of national circumstances. Since the
technology development is evolving, then
the successive NDCs will encompass new
improvements in mitigation and adaptation
measures to represent a progression
beyond the current NDC.

(d) How the Party has addressed Article 4, Jordan continues to enhance the mitigation
paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement; efforts by increasing the country’s ambition
in the updated NDC to be 31% below the
BAU.

(e) How the Party has addressed Article 4, Not applicable

paragraph 6, of the Paris Agreement.

7 How the nationally determined contribution contributes towards

achieving the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2:

(a) How the nationally determined Although Jordan’s GHG contribution to the
contribution contributes towards global warming is very small, but the
country endeavors to support the global
achieving the objective of the
effort to achieve the ultimate objective the
Convention as set out in its Article 2;
convention along with the national
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sustainable development across all sectors

which could assist the national efforts to
increase the ability to adapt to the adverse
impacts of climate change and foster low
GHG emissions development while
emphasizing on poverty eradication, gender
equality and not to threaten the food
production.

(b) How the nationally determined The enhanced mitigation efforts included in
contribution contributes towards the updated-NDC will contribute to the
objectives of the Paris Agreement as set
Article 2, paragraph 1(a), and Article
out in Article 2, paragraph 1(a), and Article
4, paragraph 1, of the Paris
4, paragraph 1. Raising the ambition of
Agreement. reducing the emissions by 2030

9. Annexes
Annex 1: Description of proposed Mitigation Actions
Measures Sector Expected Cumulative2
Implementation Emission
Cost (USD) Reduction
(Gg CO2 eq)
Increased Percentage of Electricity Generated from Renewables Energy 2,406,800,000 4528
(2020, 20% to 2030, 35%) and 9 % Energy efficiency distributed
among (residential, services and industry). Implementation through
measures listed in the national strategy action plan
Introduction of concentrated solar power (CSP) of 100 MW and Energy/ 1,764,000,000 2,921
CSP 300 MW Renewable
Energy
Measures in Residential sector: Energy
- Natural gas distribution in the main cities ( Amman , Zarqa ,
Aqaba ) 13, 000,000 988
- Solar water Heaters (SWH) Project FOR 90,000 Houses 65,000,000 500
Energy Efficiency Projects in industry: Energy 300,000 250
- Returning Un-Returned Condensate to the Feed Water Tanks
in Food Industry
- Insulating the un-insulated pipes, fittings and tanks in food
industries
- Using Regenerative burners instead of conventional burners in
Steel Reheating Industry.
185 MW PV for the Aqaba Amman Water Desalination and Water/Renewable 2,820,910,000 799.1
Conveyance Project (AAWDCP) Energy
(50% of the overall needed power demand covered by Wheeling
and Net Metering)

2
Discounted (8%) Projected emission for the period (2012-2030)
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Measures Sector Expected Cumulative2

Implementation Emission
Cost (USD) Reduction
(Gg CO2 eq)
Bus Rapid Transit Project (BRT) as described in Amman GCAP - Energy / 282,309,071 3358.38
(2nd phase) Transport
Electric bus fleet in Irbid and Zarqa Energy / 40,000,000 351.75
Transport
Intelligent transport systems (ITS) Energy / 78,556,700 2759.21
Transport
Promoting Car-hybrid and electric at national level -including 50% Energy / 56,500,000 2503
of the Public fleet will be EVs- and assuming annual increase in Transport
private cars adoption by 2%)
Biogas collection and utilization from three domestic solid waste Solid waste 7,500,000 1643
landfills: in Al-Dulail, Al-Salt and Maddaba
Implementing composting units for pre-segregated bio-waste in 4 Solid waste 5,118,226 73.8
Areas with a total capacity of 200 tonnes/day
Biogas generation by utilizing the sludge generated from domestic Wastewater 20,000,000 557
wastewater treatment plants: in five areas (Ramtha, Madaba,
AlSalt, Wadi Arab and Baqa'a)
Use of steel slag and/or fly ash to substitute the raw materials Industry 3,445,000 132.65
needed to produce clinker
Increase the percentage of Pozzolana in CEM II Industry 2,330,000 194.82
Produce new cement product CEM IV with 45% of Pozzolana Industry 1,635,000 111.92
Use of biomass (MSW or/and Sewage Sludge) as alternative fuels Industry 3,000,000 409.23
KEMAPCO Project- Reduction of N2O in Ammonia Production Industry 6,000,000 1508
Implementing pilot interventions to scale-up the sustainable use of Industry 2,400,000 7.23
cooling technologies with climate-friendly gases.
Climate smart agriculture Agriculture and 500,000 40.85
Forestry
Urban tree Plantations (32500 trees) Agriculture and 250,000 9.0
Forestry
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Measures Sector Expected Cumulative2

Implementation Emission
Cost (USD) Reduction
(Gg CO2 eq)
Rangeland restoration (200,000 dunums) Agriculture and 10,000,000 5821
Forestry
Forest tree Plantations (2,000,000 trees) Agriculture and 3,000,000 247.36
Forestry
Total estimated cost of the mitigation actions is 7.60 billion USD (7,592,553,997 USD)
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Annex 2: Proposed Investment Plan for Adaptation projects

The following table provides major investment projects that were identified and prioritized in national environmental plans
and lead to enhancing climate change adaptation and resilience in Jordan

Project Reference Sector Cost (USD)

Wastewater networking (al-Koura district), in addition to lifting NDCP Action Water 52,380,000
stations implementation & wastewater treatment plant for Plan
different villages
Preparation of detailed designs and rehabilitation of water NDCP Action Water 21,216,548
network in Ardah district/ Balqa Governorate Plan
Establish a financing facility for rainwater harvesting from NDCP Action Water 4,057,000
household roofs to support projects that augment rural and Plan
urban water supply
Blue Economy Principles for Improved Touristic NDCP Action Water 14,472,780
Competitiveness, Livelihoods of the Fisherman Community, Plan
Industrial Development and Monitoring Indicators of Pollution
Control and Climate Change in the Jordanian Sector of the Gulf
of Aqaba, Red Sea
Green Actions in Agriculture and Forestry - the protection and NDCP Action Agriculture 5,987,500
sustainability of forest wealth Plan
Reduce soil erosion through the management and harvesting of NDCP Action Agriculture 28,318,421
rainwater by small farmers in rural areas of Jordan Plan
Supporting poor families in Ma'an Governorate, improving the NDCP Action Agriculture 8,880,000
income of poor families in the northern Jordan Valley, Irbid Plan
Governorate - investment in small ruminants to support poor
rural families
 76

Project Reference Sector Cost (USD)

Disseminate climate change adaptation techniques through NDCP Action Agriculture 2,098,440
climate smart agriculture production Plan
Develop rangelands for climate change mitigation through social NDCP Action Agriculture 32,739,219
cooperation and water harvesting techniques – water harvesting Plan
and improving the income of poor families in Maan and Shobak
Implement climate change proofing for agricultural crops NDCP Action Agriculture 254,250
including setting up an integrated Pest management (IPM) Plan
System
Strengthening surveillance and establishment of highly sensitive NDCP Action Health 1,801,672
alert system by developing health forecast system for any Plan
climate sensitive disease through 15 hospitals and 20 health
centers
Improve irrigation efficiency in the Jordan valley National Green Water 27,700,000
Growth Plan
(NGGP)
Increase the resilience of displaced persons and host National Green Water 7,000,000
communities to climate change related water challenges Growth Plan
(NGGP)
Increase the availability of WASH in schools and strengthening National Green Water 1,500,000
standards for climate change impacts Growth Plan
(NGGP)
Reduce water losses and increase water savings in Kind National Green Water 500,000
Abdullah Canal Growth Plan
(NGGP)
Undertake feasibility studies to explore storm water systems and National Green Water 15,000,000
groundwater filtration Growth Plan
(NGGP)
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Project Reference Sector Cost (USD)

Construct reservoirs and implement a parallel community water National Green Water 66,900,000
resource stewardship program for several communities in the Growth Plan
Jordan Valley (NGGP)
Technical assistance to support water efficiency in businesses, National Green Water 4,140,000
industries and commercial activities Growth Plan
(NGGP)
Develop a flexible crop planning and variety selection National Green Agriculture 7,500,000
methodology and decision making process based on crop per Growth Plan
drop and economic competitiveness (NGGP)
Develop and implement pipeline of projects and policy National Green Agriculture 21,000,000
recommendations to increase the use of aquaponics and Growth Plan
hydroponics in urban and rural areas. (NGGP)
Support rural green growth and employment through ecosystem National Green Agriculture 6,000,000
restoration Growth Plan
(NGGP)