Arab Environment Day.. Jordan strengthens the management of its natural resources from environmental protection to national security

This equation gains double importance in Jordan, making environmental protection and the management of its resources a national responsibility that transcends sectoral work to the core of economic and development planning, and enhances the Kingdom's resilience in the face of crises and climate change.

Arab Environment Day this year comes as an occasion to renew the commitment to move from diagnosing environmental challenges to developing practical policies that enhance resource efficiency, preserve biodiversity, limit pollution and the depletion of natural wealth, and integrate environmental considerations into development and stability priorities, ensuring the protection of the rights of future generations.

The President of the National Center for Environmental Justice, Dr. Mohammad Ayadat, confirmed that the Royal interest in environmental issues represents a strategic orientation that links the protection of natural resources to Jordan's security, stability, and developmental future, pointing out that water and natural resources are no longer separate service or environmental files, but essential elements in protecting national interests.

He pointed to the directive of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the government, during a meeting held on September 7, to prepare a comprehensive and unified national strategy for climate finance in cooperation with the private sector, to enhance Jordan's ability to benefit from available funding sources and tools to reduce emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieve long-term sustainable development goals.

He added that these directives establish a national path that goes beyond responding to current environmental pressures to attracting green investments, developing technical solutions, and transforming environmental commitments into economic and development opportunities, which will positively reflect on the lives of citizens and preserve the sustainability of natural resources.

The Ministry of Environment's strategy for the years 2026–2029 constitutes a framework for action in the areas of green growth, climate action, environmentally sound management, and ecosystem sustainability, in addition to enhancing environmental awareness and developing institutional performance, supporting the linking of environmental policies with economic and social priorities, provided they are translated into executive programs and clear, measurable, and evaluable performance indicators.

For his part, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Dr. Mohammad Salem Al-Huwaiti, said that the environment is no longer an issue limited to protecting trees and reducing pollution, but has become linked to national security, human health, economic sustainability, water and food security, and the ability of countries to withstand crises.

He added that Arab Environment Day should serve as a station to review environmental policies, evaluate their results, propose applicable solutions, and move from the concept of "environmental protection" to a more comprehensive concept represented by "managing Arab natural capital," as an integral part of the national and regional wealth upon which quality of life and growth opportunities are based.

He explained that the Arab region faces an interconnected system of environmental and climate risks, as rising temperatures, disrupted rainfall patterns, and increasing heatwaves and extreme weather events lead to increased pressure on water resources, agriculture, biodiversity, and public health, in addition to rising costs of energy, food, and infrastructure.

He pointed out that the danger of these challenges lies in their cascading effects, as water shortages are not limited to a decline in available quantities, but extend to a decrease in agricultural production, rising food prices, increased pressure on groundwater, land degradation, and a decline in the income of rural communities, which may lead to demographic shifts and internal migration.

He added that desertification represents a decline in the land's ability to produce, store carbon, and support biodiversity, which calls for the adoption of integrated policies to address its causes and limit its environmental, economic, and social effects.

Al-Huwaiti emphasized that the environment has become a direct part of the national security equation in the 21st century, which should be based on five integrated dimensions: water security, food security, energy security, health security, and environmental and climate security, ensuring that risks are dealt with as interconnected challenges that require joint responses.

He stressed the necessity of strengthening Arab environmental cooperation by building a joint system for exchanging experiences, information, and technologies, developing sustainable solutions, and moving from traditional cooperation based on meetings and exchanging reports to executive partnerships in the field of environmental and climate security.

He pointed out that Arab countries possess integrated components that can be utilized in this field, through the financial and investment capabilities of some countries, advanced expertise in water desalination and solar energy in others, in addition to agricultural land and expertise in water management, mining, and scientific research, allowing for the construction of joint projects that enhance resource efficiency and support Arab environmental security.

In turn, the President of the General Federation of Environmental Associations, Omar Al-Shoushan, said that the next phase requires moving from dealing with the environment as an economic cost to viewing it as an opportunity for investment, innovation, and development, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing climate finance, expanding partnership with the private sector, and utilizing modern technology to build an economy more capable of facing environmental and climate risks.

He pointed to the importance of the role that Arab sovereign wealth funds and development finance institutions can play in providing long-term funding for projects that enhance climate and environmental resilience, especially projects for water security, clean energy, green infrastructure, sustainable transport, waste management, and ecosystem protection.

He added that investment in infrastructure capable of withstanding the effects of climate change should become an Arab funding priority, especially since the cost of prevention and proactivity is lower than the cost of responding to disasters and addressing damages after they occur, calling for the development of innovative financing tools that combine sovereign and development finance, private investment, and international climate finance.

Al-Shoushan pointed out that Jordan possesses a comparative advantage represented by the availability of national expertise, specialized companies, and scientific institutions, which gives the Kingdom the opportunity to transform into a regional center for environmental and climate expertise and solutions, and to move from a position of receiving funding to an active partner in developing green knowledge, technologies, and services.

Arab Environment Day confirms that protecting natural resources is no longer a separate environmental responsibility, but a strategic investment in Jordan's security, stability, and economic growth, and that translating policies into implementable projects, strengthening national and Arab partnerships, and directing funding toward sustainable solutions represent fundamental pillars for building a future more capable of facing climate challenges and protecting the rights of future generations.