Amman, December 7, 2022 – The World Bank Group launched today the Jordan Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) in partnership with the Government of Jordan in a public event held at the Jordan Museum in Amman and attended by representatives of the public sector, the private sector, academia and research organizations, international partners, and the media.
The Jordan CCDR offers an evidence-based assessment of climate responsive policy and investment pathways that can unleash the country’s economic potential and improve outcomes for the people of Jordan—including integrated solutions for the water-energy-food security nexus, for low-carbon and resilient cities, and to unlock financing for climate-responsive development and job creation. The report supports actions under Jordan’s 10-year Vision for Economic Modernization which places sustainable practices and green investment at the core of the Kingdom’s future economic growth.
"Climate change is already having a profound impact on our country," said H.E. Nasser Shraideh, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Public Sector Modernization. "Jordan’s new Vision for Economic Modernization puts forward sustainable practices and green investment as central pillars for Jordan’s future economic growth and as critical to improvements in quality of life."
Jordan is faced with extreme water scarcity, rapid population growth and a limited natural resource base. While delays in confronting climate change can exacerbate Jordan’s development challenges, the Jordan CCDR highlights that climate-responsive development can bridge inequalities, protect livelihoods and promote social cohesion.
"Jordan has already emerged as a regional leader on climate action," said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa. "The collective implementation of the Vision for Economic Modernization — by the Government, the private sector, and the Jordanian people, with the support of Jordan’s international partners — offers the opportunity to reimagine the Kingdom’s economy in the face of climate change and turn a formidable challenge into a great opportunity for development progress."
According to the report, Jordan’s trajectory in meeting its climate and development goals will be largely determined by policy and investment choices in five key sectors – water, energy, agriculture, transport and urban development. The report identifies a set of recommendations to unlock, facilitate and scale-up financing for climate action.
"To adapt to climate change, Jordan will need financing and expertise, and the private sector is equipped with both. In the years to come, private businesses and public-private partnerships can be game changers in terms of helping Jordan build a climate resilient economy that creates opportunities for all," said Hela Cheikhrouhou is IFC's regional Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Following a presentation of the report analysis and recommendations, participants attended two panel discussions. The first session titled "Building Systemic Climate Resilience and the Role of Partnerships" highlighted perspectives on creating partnerships among key stakeholder to help achieve climate and development goals, including specific initiatives that could be taken forward based on the CCDR recommendations. The second panel session, titled "Making the Business Case for Climate Action and the Role of the Private Sector and Financial Institutions" discussed the experiences and proposals for increasing financial flows towards climate change action in Jordan, and for enhancing Jordan’s competitiveness across the board through climate-smart actions.
World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports:
The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are new core diagnostic reports that integrate climate change and development considerations. They will help countries prioritize the most impactful actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector, and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs will feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements, and operations to help attract funding and direct financing.
