‘Regional conflicts could affect Jordan’s sustainable development’

AMMAN — Jordan’s sustainable development goals could be threatened by the consequences of regional conflicts, a meeting of the Higher National Committee on Sustainable Development (HNCSD) heard on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

Chaired by Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, the meeting discussed the implementation of a national strategy to apply the Sustainable Development Global Agenda (SGDA) 2030. 

Fakhoury described the SDGA 2030, adopted in 2015 by His Majesty King Abdullah, alongside other world leaders, as an “ambitious agenda that took into consideration all issues and dimensions of sustainable development”.

Speaking to committee members, the minister said a plan has been drawn up to implement the SDGA 2030, with a focus on community awareness and a sense of ownership for all stakeholders. 

The plan includes consultations with, and the involvement of, the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, women and youth organisations and local communities. 

“We are all partners in this process,” Fakhoury said, adding that “our work is based on complete inclusiveness and not excluding anyone”.

It is the responsibility of the HNCSD, he explained, to supervise, guide and follow up on all issues regarding the Kingdom’s sustainable development.

Given the ongoing conflict in neighbouring countries, and Jordan’s hosting of an estimated 1.3 million Syrians, the meeting also discussed the difficulties of their implementation. 

The ministry statement called on the “international community [to] bear its responsibility towards the state of instability and unprecedented conflicts in the region… whether because of the conflict itself or because of the refugee influxes”.

It warned that these factors could “affect our development gains and our ability to achieve” sustainable development goals. 

Fakhoury told members that Jordan will submit its voluntary report, used to monitor progress towards sustainable development, before July 2017. 

Environment Minister Yassin Khayyat also spoke about the National Green Growth Plan, which was recently endorsed by the Council of Ministers and the economic development committee as a roadmap for green growth.

He said it is a comprehensive plan to achieve economic growth, while preserving the country’s natural resources and helping achieve social inclusion, targeting poverty and reducing unemployment. 

Khayyat said the plan will implement green economic projects in the sectors of water, energy, waste management, transport, tourism and agriculture.