The conference, which will be held in Copenhagen in December, is expected to yield a climate change deal building upon the first phase of the UN’s Kyoto Protocol, an international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide that is set to expire in 2012.

"We will demand industrial countries contributing to climate change to provide developing states with technical and financial assistance to help them adapt to and mitigate the impact of the phenomenon, especially water shortage and desertification," Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said yesterday.

Although it may not resolve all details, the agreed outcome in Copenhagen must provide clarity on four key issues, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

These include emission reduction targets for developed countries, nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries, increasing financial and technological support for the adaptation and mitigation and an effective institutional framework with governance structures that address the needs of developing countries.

Irani announced yesterday that the ministry has finalised the draft national report on actions to mitigate the impact of climate change, which recommends promoting water-conscious farming and harvesting methods.

Climate change is a concept referring to the variation in the Earth's global climate or in regional climates over time. It describes changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over timescales ranging from decades to millions of years.

"Jordan is one of the countries impacted by climate change; this is particularly evident in the water shortage resulting from the drop in rainfall," the minister said in a press statement.

According to official figures, 91 per cent of Jordan's total area of 97,000 square kilometres is arid land with an annual rainfall average of 50-200 millimetres (mm), while 2.9 per cent is categorised as semi-arid with an annual rainfall average of 400-580mm.

Environmentalists said that so far, climate change has caused a 30 per cent reduction in the country's surface water resources, as well as a decrease in the volume of rainfall and agricultural production.

Irani warned that the country’s annual water per capita will drop from current 150 cubic metres to 90 cubic metres by the year 2025, noting that international studies predict worldwide rainfall to drop by 20 per cent by the year 2020 as a result of climate change.

"This situation necessitates plans and programmes that address problems resulting from the lack of water resources whether in the fields of agriculture, health, livestock or wildlife," he underscored, noting that the international community has a role to play in assisting countries affected by climate change.

"Developed countries are requested to fulfil their obligations towards developing nations to help them implement local initiatives in the fields of energy, water and investment in waste management," Irani added, urging developed nations to assist countries in the transfer of technology to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

In 1992, Jordan, along with 189 other countries, became a party to the UNFCCC, which seeks to come up with plans to reduce global warming. In 1997, the Kingdom joined the Kyoto Protocol, which made it eligible to benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Earlier this month, Jordan received 1.5 million euros in return for selling carbon credits from the Aqaba Thermal Power Station, the first Jordanian venture registered as a CDM project.

It received its first payment of 1.5 million euros for selling the carbon offset from the plant to a British firm. The plant is expected to generate 23 million euros over the next five years.

Work is currently under way for registering other projects under the CDM, according to officials.