Riyadh: Jordan’s Minister of Environment, Muawieh Radaideh, engaged in substantial discussions during bilateral meetings at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Riyadh. The discussions aimed at addressing shared environmental challenges and securing both technical and financial support for environmental projects in Jordan.
According to Jordan News Agency, Minister Radaideh met with prominent figures, including Oman’s Environment Authority Chairman Abdullah Al Amri, Global Green Growth Institute Regional Director Mahamadou Tounkara, and UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. Radaideh emphasized the critical need for unified international efforts to fund initiatives under the Rio Conventions, particularly the Loss and Damage Fund, to tackle pressing environmental challenges.
The minister commended the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) West Asia office in Jordan for its contributions over two decades, which
have included implementing impactful environmental programs across Jordan and the region. His remarks were made in the presence of IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar.
In a statement released by the Ministry, Radaideh underscored the significance of the three Rio Conventions on biodiversity, climate change, and desertification, which originated from the 1992 Earth Summit. He described these conventions as pivotal tools for advancing sustainable development goals.
Radaideh also drew attention to the adverse effects of migration on host countries, highlighting the strain on resources and the urgent need for funding to support host nations in managing these challenges. He called for grants instead of loans to avoid increasing financial burdens on host countries and stressed the importance of transparent mechanisms to ensure effective resource allocation.