(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Aqaba, July 3 (Petra) - The Ministry of Local Administration, in collaboration with the Regional Climate and Energy Project for the Middle East and North Africa at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and partnership with the Royal Scientific Society, conducted a training workshop on Wednesday on enhancing the role of municipalities and service councils in climate change and sustainable energy plans.
The workshop was attended by mayors, executive directors, and directors of development units from 15 municipalities in the southern region, along with joint services councils.
The Ministry of Local Administration, in cooperation with the Regional Climate and Energy Project at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Royal Scientific Society, aims to equip decision-makers and planners in municipalities and service councils with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed to develop successful climate action plans. These plans aim to transform ambitious climate goals into tangible realities, manage environmental and climate change issues at the local level, and integrate local municipal plans for climate action within national strategies.
This training workshop follows three previous workshops on sustainable energy and climate action in municipalities. These earlier workshops, organized by the Clima-Med project and funded by the European Union, aimed to work sustainably with municipalities in the field of climate change.
During the opening ceremony, the Communications and Media Advisor at the Ministry of Local Administration, Muhammad Malkawi, underscored the importance of Jordanian municipalities and joint services councils investing in sustainable energy and climate change plans. He highlighted the necessity of designing local projects to secure future funding from international and regional organizations.
Malkawi emphasized that the Sustainable Energy Access & Climate Action Plan (SEACAP) is an integrated framework aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. He reiterated the ministry's commitment to empowering municipalities to develop strategies, plans, and programs related to sustainable energy and climate action, enabling them to secure funding and support from international donor organizations.
He noted that Jordan is viewed as a model of success in the Middle East, especially after launching the Green Financing Strategy for 2023-2028.
Dina Kasbi, Program Director of the Regional Climate and Energy Project at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, stated that the project began in 2014 as a core part of the foundation's initiatives. The project supports various civil society actors, youth activists, government institutions, political decision-makers, research institutions, and unions in collaboratively seeking sustainable and inclusive policies. Kasbi noted that the project focuses on three main axes: climate justice, sustainable cities, and a just transition towards 100 percent renewable energy.
She highlighted the importance of municipalities as the first line of defense against climate change and emphasized the necessity of raising the capabilities of municipal workers. This workshop is part of a cooperative program with the Royal Scientific Society and the Ministry of Local Administration, which includes training on climate change concepts, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and the role of municipalities in achieving Jordan's sustainability agenda.
Ruba Ajour, head of the Department of Climate Change Studies at the Center for Water and Environment at the Royal Scientific Society, discussed the global impacts of climate challenges. She emphasized the need for effective policies and capacity-building to address these challenges and highlighted the critical role of municipalities in responding to climate change while continuing to provide essential services.
Ajour explained that the workshop aims to enhance the capabilities of decision-makers and planners in municipalities and local authorities, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop effective climate action plans. These plans are intended to transform ambitious climate goals into practical, pioneering projects.
Advisor to the Minister of Local Administration for Environmental Affairs, Asma Ghazawi, reiterated the ministry's efforts to involve municipalities in sustainable energy and climate change plans, particularly as they are well-positioned to implement local projects. She highlighted the ministry's ongoing efforts to raise the capabilities of municipal decision-makers and planners to effectively confront climate changes.
The two-day workshop agenda includes topics such as climate change, the legal framework of the United Nations Climate Change Convention and the Paris Agreement, an introduction to climate action plans, and methodologies for selecting and analyzing projects.

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