Jeddah: Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman reaffirmed Jordan's firm commitment to supporting the Green Middle East Initiative during his participation in the initiative's second ministerial meeting, held in Jeddah under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia. Suleiman emphasized Jordan's backing of the initiative's strategic directions, focusing on land restoration, combating desertification, and enhancing adaptation to climate change impacts, which are considered national priorities amid challenges like water scarcity and land degradation.
According to Jordan News Agency, Suleiman expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for spearheading the initiative and hosting the meeting. He commended the secretariat's efforts in strengthening governance, developing coordination mechanisms, and monitoring the implementation of the initiative's outcomes. Suleiman highlighted the progress made since the previous ministerial meeting, particularly in developing institutional frameworks, enhancing data exchange, and adopting a mechanism for rotating the chairmanship of the Ministerial Council.
Suleiman noted that Jordan has updated its National Biodiversity Strategy in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and is close to completing its fourth Nationally Determined Contributions report on climate change within the first half of this year. He emphasized the importance of data exchange, technical capacity building, and aligning national strategies with the initiative's objectives, especially in arid and fragile environments. This effort is part of the broader framework of economic modernization and sustainable green growth.
The Minister also mentioned that Jordan is working to expand green spaces through a national target of planting 10 million trees over 10 years, with approximately 2.5 million trees already planted under the first executive program of the Economic Modernization Vision. This initiative contributes to ecosystem improvement, climate change mitigation, and enhanced quality of life.
Suleiman reaffirmed Jordan's dedication to contributing to the initiative's goals through land restoration programs, the implementation of nature-based solutions, and the exchange of expertise with member states. He welcomed the accession of new countries and called for stronger regional cooperation and the translation of commitments into tangible outcomes.