Amman:Climate challenges are impacting families and essential services throughout the Kingdom, prompting Environment Minister Ayman Suleiman to emphasize the necessity of innovation for future planning.
According to Jordan News Agency, Suleiman articulated his views at the Climate-Smart Innovation Forum, which was organized under the Tabeaa (Nature) Project by Mercy Corps in collaboration with Al Hussein Technical University (HTU). He highlighted the need for a shift from planning to implementation, advocating an integrated approach incorporating technological, social, and entrepreneurial solutions to enhance climate change adaptation.
The Environment Ministry is preparing to participate in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP) in Antalya, Turkey. Suleiman acknowledged the Swiss Embassy's support in facilitating the participation of six individuals in the conference, enabling them to engage in negotiations and learn from the event.
Suleiman urged institutions and international organizations to support wider participation and ensure continued engagement of Jordanian stakeholders in climate-related forums. Swiss Ambassador to Jordan Emilija Georgieva emphasized the significance of collaborative platforms that unite government entities, communities, and the private sector to tackle common climate challenges, underscoring the partnership between Switzerland and Jordan in building climate resilience.
Georgieva expressed optimism for expanding public-private partnership models in Jordan, recognizing their potential for positive impacts. The forum showcased the role of innovation in developing solutions to address climate challenges in Jordan and build community resilience, while exploring opportunities for scaling and investment.
The event facilitated dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership-building among public and private entities and financing institutions to support the transition of innovative ideas into practical applications. It featured presentations from 10 projects participating in the Climate Tech Innovation Bootcamp, managed by The CORE at HTU under the Tabeaa Project.
The bootcamp combines prototype development, mentorship, business model development, and investment readiness to help innovators create viable projects. It will enable two selected projects to advance to the pilot phase with grants totaling JD100,000, along with technical and operational support.
This phase aims to test solutions in local contexts, building evidence of commercial viability and community resilience, and supporting future climate investment opportunities. HTU President Ismail Al-Hinti stressed the importance of nurturing an environment where ideas can be transformed into prototypes and developed into practical solutions with tangible impacts.
Mercy Corps Jordan Program Director Candice Branchoux explained that the bootcamp's challenges were designed based on community needs and priorities. The approach encourages innovators to propose solutions addressing community challenges without imposing predetermined technological solutions.
The Tabeaa Project, titled "Enhancing Community Resilience and Response to Climate Change," is implemented by Mercy Corps Jordan with support from the Z Zurich Foundation and the Swiss Embassy in Jordan. It aims to strengthen communities' capacity to adapt to climate change, floods, and heatwaves through local and sustainable solutions.