Environmental issues in Jordan
[1] Many of these issues are exacerbated by the rapid increase in population that Jordan has experienced since 1950, driven mainly by large waves of refugees.
United Nations Development Program study states that, in 33 of 36 surveyed towns, solid waste management was the most affected service - respondents had conflicting views as to the principal cause and who was responsible.
[14] Syrian refugees find themselves concentrated in Jordan’s most water-scarce regions - below both international and national standards for water and sanitation infrastructure.
A study held by the International Labor Organization reported that 85% of Jordanian workers stated that Syrians should not be able to enter Jordan freely.
[16] Due to this negative public opinion, as well as a lack of confidence in foreign aid, has led the Jordanian government to restrict protected space for Syrians.
[16] Jordan is an arid region that receives very little precipitation, making it difficult to sustain domestic, agricultural, or industrial water supplies.
[1] At the time of Jordan's independence in 1946, there was an estimated 3,600 cubic meters of freshwater per capita - this has decreased significantly due to population change and depletion of water supplies.
[1] As a symptom of this, the water tables in areas surrounding these aquifers have been significantly lowered, causing further troubles for groundwater supply.
International aid company Mercy Corps reports that, due to these problems, Jordan loses 50% of all water resources - at least 76 billion liters annually.
[3] The DWC was contracted to span 325 kilometers as a 1.1-billion-dollar project funded by Jordan, the European Investment Bank, France, and USAID.
[3] In an attempt to improve their situation, Jordan, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates signed a declaration of intent in November 2021.
Increased demand for the provision of wastewater treatment services have led industrial and municipal plants to fall behind - existing infrastructure is not able to keep up.
[1] For more see Water supply and sanitation in Jordan Exhaust from engines, use of air conditioners, and other energy or fuel-intensive practices release harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
[1] Air quality in Jordan is described as "moderately unsafe" [22] due to the increased presence of particulate matter from the aforementioned industries and daily practices.
[22] Industrial practices, particularly regarding factories dealing with heavy metals, that don't take waste management into account can negatively impact the environment as well.
[26] Jordans lack of proper recycling and sorting practices gave rise to waste-pickers, who are usually people from poorer regions that look for waste to sell in order to alleviate financial hardship.
Jordan established a National SWM (Solid Waste Management) strategy (2015-2024) to create proper recycling and sorting systems.
This includes agricultural practices that increase pesticide and fertilizer use that is harmful to local flora and fauna, burning of fossil fuels, over-hunting, urbanization and general pollution.
[27] Declines in large mammals such as Nubian ibex, striped hyaena, jackal and the Arabian wolf have been observed due to overhunting.
[28] Jordanian government organizations have been regulating hunting to protect endangered species and keep populations stable since 1934, but overhunting remains a major issue today.
[29] From January 2015 – 2016, a study found that seven Facebook-based hunting groups in Jordan had recorded their killings of 4,707 native animals of 59 species.
[29] Overgrazing results in soil erosion which can lead to landslides, most commonly seen in the highlands of Jordan, that destroy swaths of vegetation and land that local fauna use for food and shelter.
[4] This policy is in alignment with Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
[5] The ministry plans to develop the technology used in the 33 existing wastewater facilities in Jordan by increasing treatment abilities of toxic and inorganic matter and incorporating a larger portion of this treated water into agriculture.
[5] This project aims to mitigate the effects of climate change in Jordan through an integrated approach that incorporates land and water usage to improve biodiversity along with public and ecosystem health.
A floating solar power system on the King Abdellah Canal which simultaneously plans to reduce water evaporation and produce sustainable energy.
[7] Women are responsible for a variety of tasks including sorting and collecting solid waste from landfills which decreases the negative effects of pollution, marketing, and involvement in organic fertilizer production.
[7] Funded by the Norwegian government, this FAO grant equips people with knowledge regarding sustainable food production practices.
This project provides people with financial independence, self sustaining food security, while simultaneously improving the local land.
These discussions are mainly based on water issues and provide a platform for young people to establish networks and foster an environment for social and political change.
