On 15 December 2022, Board of Directors of Climate Action Network signed and approved CAN Strategic plan 2023-2028. The objective of the CAN strategic plan is to guide the organization on strategic objectives for the next five years. The strategic plan will guide and inform our development and funding partners, investors, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders of the work we are doing and foster strong linkages and partnerships with them to achieve maximum results and impact. It will also set out a clear framework for accountability and mechanisms of achieving the stated objectives, as well as ensuring that the sustainable impact of our programs will be measured, critiqued, and/or appreciated.
In the context of Jordan, climate-related changes are forecasted to impact a wide range of sectors where the adaptive capacity of the state might already be weak, particularly in rural area. Reduced availability of natural water leads to greater difficulty to meet domestic water needs and resulting in rationing of water. The intermittent water supply fuels public animosity that is already present on non-water related issues. Reduced agricultural production as a result of less available water, higher temperatures, and extreme weather events. Lower exporting capacity and higher dependence on imported foods are likely going to cause higher food prices, lower and less stable incomes, and possible food shortages for some staple food products. Economic recession in the agricultural sector as a result of lower agricultural yield could lead to the erosion of livelihoods, internal displacement of people, and greater food insecurity. Increased pressure on physical infrastructure due to extreme weather events that leads to the collapse of infrastructure in the field of transport, electricity, and other essential services, as well as loss of life due to resulting accidents. Outbreak of new climate-related diseases, placing additional stress on already inadequate health services contributing to the overall deterioration of public health.
These impacts will have serious implications for the social and economic stability of Jordan. Systemic failure to respond to humanitarian and environmental crises creates dissatisfaction with the governing authorities. The built-up pressure from within may inadvertently ignite public turmoil that will challenge the resilience of the system. At the same time, Jordan’s acceptance of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees since the onset of the civil war has put the country before new challenges. The stark influx of refugees has already strained Jordan’s finances, its natural resources, as well as the patience of its people.
Therefore, the country is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the consequences of climate change would seriously undermine sustainable development aspirations, as the governmental projections show. The government addresses poverty and unemployment as the major challenges for sustainable development. A temperature increases will make it more challenging for Jordan to meet its economic growth. Resource scarcity and its management is a crucial issue for the country, most notably scarcity of water, energy and arable land. The economy is already very vulnerable to external shocks, which severely undermines the country’s food security.
CAN from its international, national, humanitarian, environmental roles, has studied these challenge deeply and consulted many experts , stakeholders, local and officials all over the counties and look to achieve the following programs during the upcoming years.