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Jordan’s Ministry of Environment in partnership with GGGI holds 3rd Private Sector Roundtable Discussion

Under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, H.E. Dr.. Muawieh Radaideh and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, H.E. Dr.. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, GGGI facilitated the Third Private Sector Roundtable on May 24th on renewable energy and energy efficiency under the Green Climate Fund Readiness Project “Preparing Jordan’s NDA and DAE for Partnership in Climate Action through GCF Direct Access”.

Dr. Radaideh emphasized the importance of public private partnership to achieve Jordan’s National Determined Contributions and build the momentum of climate action in the country. He elaborated on national efforts to develop adaptation and mitigation climate measures that align with the ambitious emissions reduction target of 31%. Additionally, his excellency called on the private sector to partner with the government in implementing the “1 million trees in 10 years” initiative as part of the decarbonization pathway.

Dr. Kharabsheh emphasized the necessity to tackle technical and financial challenges, to enhance the enabling environment for investments in RE & EE. These include upgrading the national grid and increasing its capacity to take on more renewable energy.

Eng. Hanna Zaghloul, CEO of Kawar Energy, reflected on the private sector experience in climate investments and their willingness to partner in developing and implementing climate-responsive projects. He also noted the private sector’s efforts in investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency to create green jobs and contribute to the national GDP. Eng. Shorouq Abdelghani, Director of Planning & Organizational Development, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, presented the ministry’s achievements and future plans in RE & EE.

Ms. Krystle Cooper, GGGI Senior Climate Finance Officer, elaborated on GGGI’s global strategy and Jordan country programming supporting E-mobility among other sectors and increased access to climate finance via the readiness project. Mr. Abdelmajid Bennis, GGGI Lead for the Morocco program, presented a case study on a successful waste to energy project in Morocco driven by public private partnership and dialogue, in order to provide valuable knowledge transfer to their partner in the region.

The dialogue was facilitated in Arabic by Ms. Hala Al-Hamawi, Accreditation and Compliance Specialist for the Jordan readiness project. It was also attended by the Director of Climate Change for the Ministry of Environment, and UNFCCC and GCF focal point, Eng. Belal Shqarin. Representatives from other key ministries, development partners, and the private sector made up the participants who engaged directly with the ministers on their challenges and needs to enhance the enabling environment for climate investments.