Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   The Ministry of Environment has launched a $4.3 million programme to develop the Kingdom's adaptation to climate change and sustain its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) achievements. The programme, financed by the UNDP-Spain MDG Achievement Fund, seeks to identify loopholes in the country's climate change adaptation process and assess... [read more]

Source: Petra News Agency   His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility to protect the future of humanity by combating climate change. In a speech at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen delivered by HRH Prince Hamzah, the King stressed Jordan’s support for international efforts to arrive at a just, fair and effective... [read more]

Here are the full recommendations of the AFED 2nd annual conference taht was held in Beirut last month   The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) held its second annual conference in Beirut on 19-20 November 2009, under the patronage of His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic General Michel Sleiman. The conference brought together 500 delegates from 22 countries,... [read more]

The Copenhagen Diagnosis project has released a major report that compiles all significant scientific data that has been documented between 2007-2009 after the release of the IPCC's fourth assessment report on Climate Change. The report can be downloaded from here http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.com/default.html  The purpose of this report is to synthesize the most policy-relevant climate... [read more]

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a landmark report documenting the cost-effectiveness of investing in natural resource management and ecosystem restoration as a tool for adaptation to climate change. Evidence derived from many examples around the world prove the need to integrate this option in adaptation planning. Unfortunately the report lacks examples from the Arab world... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan’s water resources will be depleted by climate change even if the Kingdom witnesses an increase in precipitation, a report launched on Thursday indicated. Climate change will severely impact the quantity of monthly surface water runoff, according to the report, indicating that even if current rainfall amounts remain unchanged,... [read more]

Source: Pal Telegraph, processed from World Bank resources   The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is particularly vulnerable to climate change. It is one of the world's most water-scarce and dry regions; with a high dependency on climate-sensitive agriculture and a large share of its population and economic activity in flood-prone urban coastal zones. On the other hand, societies... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Precipitation in Jordan, the fourth water poorest country in the world, is expected to decrease by 20 per cent within the next few years, a senior government official predicted on Sunday. Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said yesterday that although the Kingdom is accountable for around 0.1 per cent of total global greenhouse gases,... [read more]

Last month I was involved in the translation of the landmark report to be released by the Arab Forum on Environment and Developemnt on Nov 19th in Beirut entitled "Impacts of Climate Change on the Arab World". From my review of three important draft chapters I can say that the report will be a comprehensive outlook on the impacts of climate change on the region, documented for the first time in... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 17.9.2009   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan will demand industrial countries’ support for national projects that curb the impact of climate change in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, a senior government official said on Wednesday. The conference, which will be held in Copenhagen in December, is expected to yield a climate change deal building upon the... [read more]

This is the editorial of Najib Saab publisher and editor-in-chief of Environment & Development the leading environmental magazine in the Arab World for the September issue http://www.najibsaab.com/english/editordetails.asp?id=220    Climate Change: Challenge of Tomorrow, Solution for Today   Is it true that combating climate change hampers efforts to tackle... [read more]

Jordan is about to launch its first systematic climate change adaptation project, through an integrated approach that will involve 4 UN agencies, 5 ministers and supported by the Spanish government. Here is the story published by Jordan Times, while you can check the project details here. http://sdnhq.undp.org/opas/en/proposals/suitable/142    I am proud to say that I have participated... [read more]