Amman, Sept 15 (Petra) – The third regional meeting of the West Asia Air Quality Network kicked off Monday in Amman, organized jointly by the Jordanian Ministry of Environment and the West Asia Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with participation from regional experts and representatives of international organizations.

Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman said Jordan is proud to host the meeting, marking a new milestone in regional cooperation to tackle air pollution challenges. He noted that the first meeting in Amman in 2023 and the second in December 2024 laid solid foundations for a 2025–2026 action plan focusing on sustainability, knowledge exchange, and alignment with climate change mitigation efforts.

"Air pollution represents a cross-border health and environmental challenge that requires coordinated efforts to adopt practical and sustainable solutions," Suleiman said. The current meeting aims to set joint work priorities, support a coordinated approach to air quality management, and facilitate knowledge sharing among West Asian countries.

Suleiman also announced the launch of a regional air quality platform to share national experiences and develop a training program in coordination with the West Asia Office to build capacities among participating countries. He emphasized that the ministry is open to signing memoranda of understanding with any country interested in this field.

He added that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, Jordan continues to promote a green economy and implement policies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, highlighting environmental protection as a key driver of the country’s Economic Modernization Vision (2023–2033).

Jihad Al-Sawaeir, Technical and International Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Environment, noted that the meeting includes a capacity-building workshop to equip participants with practical tools to develop national strategies reducing emissions in sectors most affecting air quality. He reviewed national achievements, including expanding the national air quality monitoring network to 27 stations and two mobile laboratories across eight governorates, publishing real-time air quality indicators online, and linking them with global networks.

He also highlighted progress in renewable energy, with its contribution to electricity production rising from 21 percent in 2020 to about 27 percent in 2024, with a target exceeding 31 percent by 2030, as well as promoting sustainable transport, where electric and hybrid vehicles now constitute 23.6 percent of total registered vehicles as of June 2025. Updates to the national climate change policy (2022–2050) aim to raise national emission reduction contributions to 31 percent by 2030.

Abdul Majid Haddad, UNEP Regional Director for West Asia, said air pollution is the world’s leading environmentally related health risk, with WHO data indicating nearly 4.7 million premature deaths annually due to outdoor and indoor air pollution. He stressed the need to address clean air within broader sustainable development, food, and water security frameworks.

Haddad noted that the West Asia Air Quality Network, launched following regional consultations in 2023, has become an effective platform for regional cooperation and joint action planning. He expressed confidence that the Amman meeting would strengthen regional capacities and expand practical solutions.

The opening session concluded with a pledge to implement the third meeting's conclusions in real-world ways to protect human health, enhance air quality, and aid in the fight against climate change for the benefit of both the current and future generations.

//Petra// AF

15/09/2025 23:06:58