Research paper brings focus to Jordan’s ‘manifold’ climate-related issues 

AMMAN — Enhancing climate security integration within national policy frameworks in Jordan is essential to mitigating risks associated with climate change, according to recent research. 

Its recommendations were published by research institutions, including Adelphi and the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), on October 12 in a paper titled “Integrating Climate Security into Policy Frameworks: Jordan”.

The paper cited security risks associated with the impact of climate change on Jordan; “most pressing are those with direct implications for water resources which are already under significant strain due to both climatic and human-induced factors”. 

It also highlighted “critical” risks associated with reduced rainfall and higher temperatures, leading to more evapotranspiration levels, and straining the “already over exploited” groundwater and aquifer reserves. The Kingdom also faces the threat of extreme weather events, such as droughts, flash floods and landslides. 

“These risks translate into important implications for Jordanians across a variety of areas, including political, social, demographic and economic realms, especially when combined with pre-existing grievances and especially poverty,” it stated. 

These “manifold” climate-related issues that Jordan is expected to contend with pose a threat to food, water and livelihood security, affecting Jordanians’ quality of life, the report noted. 

“Climate change worsens water security and leads to increasing disputes and anti-refugee sentiment, eroding social cohesion,” it added.

It also risks stretching government coffers, reducing its ability to provide services, in addition to threatening “critical infrastructure with important implications for energy security”, the report revealed. 

Financial constraints to potential interventions 

The report stated that managing these issues and mitigating their impact on Jordan’s population, requires the government to ensure that its policies are climate security sensitive, especially those surrounding sectors “critical to climate change, peace and security”. 

It added that although “Jordan is a regional trailblazer in articulating these linkages, climate security currently remains inadequately integrated into policies and processes in either climate or security domains”. 

This is partly due to low levels of institutional awareness, and limitations related to technical capacity. Despite recent progress in these areas, financial constraints continue to inhibit the development of potential interventions that could mitigate climate security issues, according to the report.