The United Kingdom is partnering with Jordan to enhance the country’s ability to predict and prepare for climate change impacts through improved weather forecasting and environmental modeling. This initiative is a critical step towards strengthening Jordan climate resilience.
Subsequently, the ‘Jahez (Ready) Project’ will leverage British meteorological experts to help Jordan produce essential data projections. These will be tailored to meet the diverse needs of various stakeholders across sectors such as urban planning, agriculture, disaster response, and more.
Meeting Distinct Climate Info Demands
As a semi-arid nation with extremely limited renewable water resources, Jordan is particularly vulnerable to climate change effects like drought, extreme heat, flooding and aquifer depletion.
Officials from the UK Met Office recently visited to discuss how to optimize climate prediction capabilities in support of Jordan’s policy priorities:
- Government planners need long-range climate change projections to guide housing, infrastructure and other development
- Farmers require both seasonal forecasts to plan crops as well as short-term agriculture weather data
- Emergency managers rely on advance storm and flood alerts to coordinate response efforts
- General public benefits from regular weather reports to inform daily activities
| Jordan’s Climate Risks | |
|---|---|
| Water scarcity | One of the lowest renewable fresh water supplies per capita globally |
| Extreme heat | Rising temperatures projected to make severe heat waves more frequent |
| Drought | Rainfall expected to decrease 15-20% by 2100 based on some climate models |
| Flooding | Vulnerability to flash floods impacting urban areas and informal settlements |
Enhancing Readiness Through Data
The project aims to improve the accuracy, usability and dissemination of environmental data flows so key decision-makers across sectors can more proactively mitigate climate risks.
Additional focus areas include rehabilitating watersheds and agricultural lands degraded by drought, as well as restoring soil and vegetation to improve flood resilience.
The British Ambassador said:
“All of us need climate predictions and weather forecasts to plan our lives and, sometimes, to take urgent action to avoid problems. I welcome the Jahez (Ready) Project which will see British and Jordanians organisations working together to improve predictions, forecasts and warnings.”
The partnership stems from Jordan’s Climate-Refugee Nexus Initiative announced at COP27 to build environmental resilience for both residents and the over 670,000 refugees it hosts.
For the latest updates, follow the Jahez Project page on MetOffice.gov.uk.
In Conclusion
Enhancing Jordan climate resilience is at the core of the Jahez Project, which aims to improve the accuracy, usability, and dissemination of environmental data flows so key decision-makers can more proactively mitigate climate risks.
Sources: THX News & British Embassy Amman.
