More than 70 participants from all over Jordan gathered in Amman on 28-30 April 2013 to attend an EU funded Horizon 2020 workshop on “Developing a Green Economy in Jordan: Focus on Resource and Energy Efficiency”. The workshop was held at a critical moment for Jordan as the country is in the process of drafting a national action plan for its transition towards a Green Economy. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ahmad Qatarneh, in his address stated that “To reap the benefits of a transition to a Green Economy, Jordan needs to follow an integrated and coordinated approach that involves all sections of the government, the private sector and civil society”. Overall the training workshop recognised that although the political will is in place there is still need to raise awareness among decision makers, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and the private sector on the unique opportunities that will emerge as a result.
More than 70 participants from all over Jordan gathered in Amman on 28-30 April 2013 to attend an EU funded Horizon 2020 workshop on “Developing a Green Economy in Jordan: Focus on Resource and Energy Efficiency”. The workshop was held at a critical moment for Jordan as the country is in the process of drafting a national action plan for its transition towards a Green Economy. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ahmad Qatarneh, in his address stated that “To reap the benefits of a transition to a Green Economy, Jordan needs to follow an integrated and coordinated approach that involves all sections of the government, the private sector and civil society”. Overall the training workshop recognised that although the political will is in place there is still need to raise awareness among decision makers, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and the private sector on the unique opportunities that will emerge as a result.
During the intensive three-day workshop representatives of various ministries, municipalities, the private sector and civil society organizations discussed extensively and openly with leading experts from international organizations (the European Environment Agency, UNEP, the World Bank, etc.), national authorities and environmental NGOs ways to catalyse Jordan’s transition to a greener economy.
State-of-the-art research findings, case studies from Jordan and the entire Mediterranean region, roundtable discussions and heated debates helped to keep participants stimulated and focused. Finally, and to further illustrate the teachings, the workshop included a field visit to the first private green building in Amman which has incorporated green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
In his closing remarks, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Eng. Adnan Zawahreh acknowledged the importance of such workshops in building the capacities of Jordanians and helping the nation-wide effort towards a greener Jordan.
The workshop was organized by the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production of the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP – CP/RAC) with the support of Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) and the Ministry of Environment of Jordan within the framework of the EU- funded Horizon 2020 Capacity Building / Mediterranean Environment Programme. More details are available at: http://www.h2020.net/en/resources/training-materials/viewcategory/243.html
