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Jordan’s climate change governance framework: from silos to an intersectoral approach

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Abstract

Jordan is not immune from climate change impacts. The complex characteristics (cross-boundary, multi-level, multi-sector, multi-agency settings, long-term challenges, and uncertainty) and long-term impacts of climate change confront Jordan’s decision-makers with a pressing question: Is the current governance framework adequate to respond coherently to the climate change impact, or is a new framework needed for future preparedness? To address this question, four qualitative research methods were applied to collect data reflecting diverse views about issues and in different contexts. Data were examined from different perspectives to aid in validating the conclusions. Results show that there are limitations in the current climate change governance framework. Better understanding of the intersectoral approach is necessary to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies that recognize the full extent of climate change vulnerability, rather than viewing single sectors in isolation. Accordingly, an intersectoral coordination roadmap was proposed to support the implementation of Jordan’s climate change policy (2013–2020).

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Acknowledgments

The data were collected during the period March–May 2015 under the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) project “The Intersectoral Coordination for the Implementation of the Climate Change Policy of the Jordanian Ministry of Environment” ((GF-ICE)/PN: 2011.2268.8-006) funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and within the context of the Governance Fund for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Data collection for this work was funded in whole by GIZ under contract No. 83198160. Special thanks to GIZ for its agreement to publish the results as well as to the project manager, Mr. Batir Wardam, for his time and efforts and to all interviewees and members of the Jordan National Committee on Climate Change.

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  1. Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Maha Al-Zu’bi

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  1. Maha Al-Zu’bi
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Correspondence to Maha Al-Zu’bi.

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Al-Zu’bi, M. Jordan’s climate change governance framework: from silos to an intersectoral approach. Environ Syst Decis 36, 277–301 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-016-9602-9

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