Hashemite kingdom of Jordan Ministry of Environment Environment in Jordan: The challenges, achievements and trends Eng. Haitham Al-Adaileh 18 20 June, 2012. Amman - Jordan 1
Our Vision The Ministry of Environment s vision is to be a model Ministry on national and regional level, capable of protecting and sustaining Jordan s environmental resources and contributing to a better quality of life Our Mission The Ministry seeks to maintain and improve the quality of Jordan's environment, conserve natural resources and contribute to sustainable development through effective policies, strategies, legislation, monitoring & enforcement & by mainstreaming environmental concepts into all national development plans. 2
Our Values We are committed to the following values & principles throughout our internal & external interaction: Transparency Fairness Commitment to sustainable development principles and environmental behavior Partnership towards better environment 3
Strategic Objectives 1. To contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. 2. To develop & implement policies & legislations. 3. To enhance monitoring, inspection, and enforcement of legislation. 4. To develop and implement information management programs. 5. To raise public awareness and education. 6. To promote national, regional & international cooperation. 7. To strengthen and develop the capacity of 4 the ministry.
Unique environmental characteristics Environmental challenges & problems Achievements and trends 5
Unique environmental characteristics: 6
one of the Unique environmental characteristics Dead Sea
Jordan suffers from scarcity of natural resources and increasing natural population growth and the successive migrations, specifically with regard to water and energy and degradation of agricultural land in addition to the impact of global climate change. The exploitation of nature for human services, health and strategic planning to provide the elements of growth and development refers to the need to exploit resources in the Dead Sea and the importance of channel conveyance and provide financial and strategic partners. The gradual decrease of the level of the surface of the Dead Sea annually is an environmental issue should be taken into account so we see that the project will lead to a carrier of reddead sea to provide water, energy and maintain the level of the sea within the limits 9
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The most important challenges & environmental problems in Jordan Land degradation and biodiversity Water pollution Air pollution Waste and hazardous materials Coastal Areas Environmental Management 20
Land degradation & biodiversity The spread of desertification and drought on land suitable for cultivation. Rangeland degradation, and weak sustainability. Intrusions on the forest areas in search of primary energy sources. The accumulation of pesticides residues in some agricultural areas. Displays some rare species of plants and organisms to extinction. Over collecting of natural plants, over-use for medical and food production. Urban sprawl on agriculturally productive areas. The desire of the private sector in industrial investment and tourism in some areas of environmental excellence. Non-site rehabilitation of quarries and crushers. Spread of flies in the Jordan Valley region because of manure and cesspits. 21
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Water contamination Random disposal of wastewater in some of the natural waterways & ponds on groundwater. Overlap of wastewater with groundwater basins. The absence of treatment plants for wastewater in some industrial areas 24
Air pollution High proportion of sulfur in diesel. The use of lead in gasoline. Polluting emissions from factories and facilities (petroleum refinery, cement plant) Blowing dust contaminated by mines and quarries. 28
Waste and hazardous materials The absence of an integrated system for recycling in Jordan linked to economic incentives. To continue to use plastic bags. The absence of a modern mechanism for the disposal of medical waste in the central and southern regions. Growing e-waste in the absence of sound systems to deal with it environmentally. 31
Environmental Management The need for harmonization between economic development & environmental protection. Lack of economic incentives & financial support for environmentally friendly industries. The inability to cover the integrated environmental control for all sources of environmental violations. Multiplicity of references in the licensing of facilities development. 34
The cost of environmental degradation in Jordan In 2004, the World Bank prepared a study to calculate the cost of environmental degradation in Jordan through the use of scientific method to measure the actual expenditure was estimated to address the environmental & health impacts of environmental pollution in many sectors and the result was as follows (the study is currently being updated & developed( Sector Water Land Air Waste Costal Total Million dinars/yr 89.46 51,28 48.35 10.19 5,91 205.19 Gross domestic % %1,36 %0.78 %0.73 %0.15 %0.09 %3.98 35
Achievements and Trends 36
Achievements: Land and Biodiversity Develop a system of land use in Jordan in areas of environmental excellence. Develop a network of protected areas covering 4% of the total area of Jordan. Prevent the entry of untreated manure to the Jordan Valley area. 37
Contribute to the national project for the greening of 38 the municipalities. Trends: Cont. Land and Biodiversity Development of productivity in the rangelands through the rehabilitation of the terrestrial environment in the Jordanian Badia (environmental compensation). The implementation of the national strategy for combating desertification & protecting biodiversity. Rehabilitation of quarries & quarry sites in addition to environmental conditions.
Water Contamination Achievements: The establishment of a water treatment plant in Irbid. Agreement with the private sector to establish a treatment plant for industrial wastewater in Zarqa. Develop an integrated strategic program for the rehabilitation of the Zarqa River Basin. Reducing and treating the waste of olive presses in a peaceful manner 39 environmentally
Cont. Water Contamination Trends: Focus on achieving the goal of rehabilitation of the Zarqa River Basin in the plan to be implemented within 15 years. Development of an effective control program on the sources of wastewater from industrial facilities. 40
Air pollution Achievements: electronic link in the control of emissions of the cement plant. get rid of leaded gasoline. The installation of 12 stations within the capital and Zarqa and Irbid to monitor air quality through the establishment of an electronic network. Trends: Trend towards the use of low sulfur diesel. The development of specifications for exhaust emissions of vehicles. 41
Waste management and hazardous materials Achievements : Coordination with the private sector to address hazardous and medical waste in the territory of the middle. Developing an integrated system to track industrial waste liquid and semi-solid in the Kingdom. Find alternatives to reduce the use of plastic bags Trends : Rehabilitation of landfills that are considered environmental hotspots. Develop the areas of recycling through an integrated management system. The development of a national program for the management and processing of electronic waste. 42
Environmental Management Achievements : Establishment of the Environmental Police (Rangers). The establishment of the national program for cleaner production. Periodic inspection of industrial and artisan enterprises to ensure compliance with environmental requirements. The establishment of the Jordan Environmental Fund Trends: Develop the system of economic incentives to invest in environmentally friendly activities. (Renewable energy, organic agriculture... etc (. The establishment of a national program of environmental Liability. 43