Amman, June 5 (Petra)– Minister of Environment, Ayman Suleiman, held
a series of bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening international
cooperation on environmental protection, climate action, and
sustainable development during his participation in the Eighth
Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8), held in
Uzbekistan on June 4–5.

During a meeting with Director General of the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Grethel Aguilar, attended by
representatives of the Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation.

The discussions also focused on opportunities to develop and
implement joint regional projects addressing trans boundary
environmental challenges, particularly in climate change adaptation,
natural resource management, and ecosystem restoration, with the aim
of promoting regional cooperation and delivering shared environmental
and development benefits.

Suleiman highlighted the importance of the IUCN’s 2026–2029 Program
as a strategic framework supporting the development and
implementation of national strategies and action plans related to
nature conservation and biodiversity protection in Jordan and the
wider region. He also emphasized the role of the Ministry of
Environment, which chairs the IUCN National Committee in Jordan, in
advancing institutional cooperation aligned with national priorities
and global conservation objectives.

The minister reviewed the Jordan Integrated Landscape Management
Initiative (JILMI), funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented
in cooperation with the IUCN. The project seeks to improve ecosystem
management through restoring degraded lands, promoting sustainable
agricultural practices, enhancing rainwater harvesting techniques,
improving groundwater recharge management, reducing water losses, and
strengthening water governance.

Both sides stressed the importance of benefiting from the IUCN’s
international expertise in designing and implementing high-impact
environmental projects at both national and regional levels, helping
attract international financing and expand the environmental and
developmental impact of future initiatives.

In a related event, Suleiman participated in an IUCN-organized
session titled “Enhancing Financing and Integration Among the Rio
Conventions to Achieve Sustainable Development in Drylands.” The
event explored mechanisms to strengthen synergies among the three
United Nations Rio Conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and
desertification, while emphasizing the need to direct financing
toward integrated solutions that generate multiple environmental and
development benefits.

During the session, Suleiman presented Jordan’s experience in
integrating the objectives of the three Rio Conventions through
national policies and strategies, including the Climate Change
Policy, the National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs), the Water Sector Strategy, and biodiversity
strategies. He stressed that climate change, biodiversity loss, land
degradation, and water scarcity are interconnected challenges that
require integrated responses.

He noted that Jordan is developing a national monitoring and
evaluation framework based on shared indicators to assess land
conditions, ecosystem health, and resilience to drought and climate
change, ensuring integrated outcomes that simultaneously support the
objectives of all three conventions.

The minister also highlighted several national projects supported by
the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund that
contribute to ecosystem restoration, rangeland management,
sustainable land and water management, and improved livelihoods for
local communities.

Despite the environmental and climate challenges facing Jordan as one
of the world’s most water-scarce countries, Dr. Suleiman said the
Kingdom continues to work closely with international partners to
advance nature-based solutions and develop sustainable environmental
financing mechanisms. These efforts support Jordan’s Economic
Modernization Vision, contribute to the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals, and help build more resilient
communities while safeguarding natural resources for future
generations.

Separately, the Jordanian delegation, led by Suleiman, held a
bilateral meeting with the United Kingdom’s Special Representative
for Climate, Rachel Kyte, to discuss avenues for expanding
Jordanian-British cooperation in environment, climate, and
sustainable development.

Suleiman outlined Jordan’s priorities for the coming period,
including increasing climate adaptation financing, protecting
biodiversity and ecosystems, promoting sustainable natural resource
management, and supporting local communities in addressing the
impacts of climate change, in line with the Economic Modernization
Vision and national development plans.

The two sides reviewed prospects for cooperation under the JAHIZ
project, which focuses on strengthening national capacities in
climate action, climate security, and institutional preparedness.

They also discussed collaboration on the “Muruna” (Resilience)
project, which aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of ecosystems
and local communities, support nature-based solutions, and improve
natural resource management in line with Jordan’s sustainable
development priorities.

The discussions further explored opportunities to develop joint
regional environmental and climate initiatives and to build on the
successes achieved through Jordanian-British cooperation in recent
years, contributing to environmental stability and sustainable
development across the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their
commitment to continued coordination and cooperation in support of
the GEF-9 process and the strengthening of Jordanian-British
partnerships in environment and climate action, advancing sustainable
development goals and enhancing resilience to environmental and
climate challenges.

//Petra// MF