Wakala Oman Jo Al-AkhbariyyaAmman, Jordan – Official and popular entities in Ajloun Governorate welcomed the decision of the Board of Directors of the Green Climate Fund to choose Jordan to host the new regional office, considering that this decision reflects international confidence in the Kingdom’s status and its leadership role on environmental and climate-change issues, and opens broad horizons for promoting sustainable development in the various governorates, including Ajloun. They affirmed that Jordan hosting the Green Climate Fund’s regional office represents a strategic step toward strengthening environmental and climate work and opens the way for implementing sustainable development projects that contribute to protecting the environment and achieving economic growth in different regions of the Kingdom. The head of the Ajloun Governorate Council’s committee and head of the Agricultural Engineers Syndicate branch in the governorate, Engineer Muawiya Anab, said that Jordan’s selection constitutes a pivotal milestone in supporting national efforts to confront climate-change challenges, noting that having a regional fund office in the Kingdom will facilitate access to international financing for environmental and agricultural projects, especially in governorates that possess distinctive natural and agricultural endowments like Ajloun. He added that this decision enhances opportunities to implement qualitative projects in the fields of water harvesting, forest rehabilitation, and supporting farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices, which will positively reflect on productivity and the preservation of natural resources. For his part, the director of the Ajloun branch of the Agricultural Credit Foundation, Engineer Bashar Al-Nawafleh, pointed out that hosting the regional office will directly support the agricultural sector by providing financing and training programs targeting farmers and enabling them to adapt to climate-change effects such as water shortages and rising temperatures. He added that Ajloun, with its biodiversity and forests, will be among the most prominent beneficiaries of projects that the Fund may finance, especially those related to protecting vegetation cover and improving food security, contributing to supporting rural communities and improving their livelihoods. In turn, Dr. Mahmoud Wafiq Fraihat, a member of the Supreme Advisory and Guiding Board of the Jordan Environment Society, stated that Jordan’s selection strengthens its status as a regional hub for climate action, and provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and build partnerships with regional countries, noting that this will reflect on developing environmental policies and increasing the efficiency of the institutions involved. He explained that having the regional office will help attract major projects in the fields of renewable energy, waste management, and biodiversity protection, supporting Jordan’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and the international climate commitments. On her part, engineer Ibtihal Al-Samad, deputy president of the Nasma Shouq Tourism Association, noted that the decision will have a positive impact on the environmental tourism sector in Ajloun, as it will assist in supporting sustainable tourism projects and developing ecological trails, enhancing the governorate’s appeal as a natural tourist destination. She added that increasing investment in green projects will help create new job opportunities for young people and support local initiatives that aim to preserve the environment and sustain resources, stressing the importance of seizing this opportunity to advance comprehensive development in the governorate.
