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Climate, Environment, and Conservation: Joint Communique of United States-Jordan Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation

The United States and Jordan held a Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation on September 7 and 8. During the Joint Forum, representatives from Jordan’s Ministry of Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development discussed the outcomes of recent environmental cooperation activities in Jordan that have benefited the water sector, energy conservation, Jordan’s protected areas, and promoted public participation in environmental issues.

The two governments also finalized a 2014-2017 Work Program that establishes the following priorities: (1) institutional and policy strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws; (2) biodiversity conservation and improved management of protected areas and other ecologically important ecosystems; (3) improving cleaner production processes, building resilience to climate change, and encouraging the adoption of sound environmental practices and technologies; and (4) promoting environmental education, transparency, and public participation in environmental decision-making and enforcement.

U.S. and Jordanian officials also met with 75 representatives from civil society and the private sector. The governments reported on the outcomes of their meetings, answered questions, and asked attendees for their views on what activities should be prioritized in the future.

The United States and Jordan established the Joint Forum and signed a Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation in October 2000 in association with the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. The mandate of the Joint Forum is “to advance environmental protection in Jordan by developing environmental technical cooperation initiatives, which take into account environmental priorities, and which are agreed to by the two governments.” This was the fourth meeting of the Joint Forum. Minister of Environment H.E. Dr. Taher Shakhashir headed the Jordanian delegation. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment Dr. Daniel A. Reifsnyder headed the U.S. delegation.