March 9, 2022 - Amman, Jordan - Minister of Environment, Dr. Muawiya Al-Radaydeh Tuesday 9/3/2022, in the presence of the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme UNDP Randa Aboul- Hosn and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Mohammad Al-Khashashneh, sponsored the launch ceremony of Gender Equality and Climate Change in Jordan Analysis by UNDP and the Ministry in celebration of International Women Day. The analysis is the first of its kind report addressing climatic impacts on women in several sectors in Jordan.

In the ceremony a discussion took place about the outputs of the analysis at several levels, including public policies, executive technical programmes and institutional frameworks so as to identify the gender gap in climate action, opportunities and benefits that can be achieved by bridging the gap and achieving gender justice in all of programmes addressing adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The analysis also described a general roadmap to gradually pave the way towards gender-responsive climate action.

“The launch of the report today comes at a time of momentum at the national and international levels. Observers of environment action in Jordan acknowledge His Majesty the King’s political will and support for sustainable development and protection of our natural resources and his directives to successive governments to prioritize it given its direct impact on the livelihoods, health and well-being of citizens,” said the Minister of Environment Muawieh Radaideh.

Radaideh added that the gendered dimension of climate change is key for achieving sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also fulfils the commitments articulated in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Paris Climate Accord and Enhanced Lima Climate Workplan for Gender. He noted that the Jordan National Climate Change Policy (2013-2030) (JNCCP), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Third National Communication report (TNC) all pledged to address gender inequalities through mainstreaming a gender equality perspective in relevant climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, strategies and action and thus developing local transformational approaches that promote gender equality and challenge the power dynamics at household, community and sectoral levels. This is pivotal to adopting more gender responsive solutions while advancing and progressing towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

"The United Nations Development Programme acknowledges the important role of women in advancing the development in Jordan. UNDP supports many initiatives and projects aimed at empowering women economically, socially and politically because women play a significant role in raising a healthy family that is the cornerstone in building a coherent community effectively contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said UNDP Resident Representative Randa Aboul-Hosn. Al-Hosn added that UNDP is always keen, through its special partnership with various Jordanian national institutions, to develop cooperation frameworks to implement joint programmes so as to empower women and ensure their engagement in all economic, social, political and environmental agendas in general and climate action in particular.

The world celebrates on March 8 the International Women's Day, and this year's theme is women and girls who lead the task of adaptation, mitigation and response to climate change to build a more sustainable future for all. The analysis focuses on assessment of women's needs in the climate action and aims to promote gender equality in climate action and disaster risk reduction, one of the signifianct global challenges we face in the twenty-first century.