Statement delivered on behalf of
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
By Dr. Jafar Hassan
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
June 20th 2012
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Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is an honor to join you today on behalf of His Majesty King Abdullah II and
the people of Jordan. My country appreciates the tremendous work of the
organizers of Rio-Plus-20. On behalf of our delegation, allow me also to thank the
Government and the people of Brazil for their warm hospitality. There is no better
place to look with confidence to the future than Brazil, which has been an inspiring
model for growth and development.
Two short decades have passed since the U.N. Conference on Environment and
Development met here in Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps for the first time in history the
world understands the critical nexus between human development, environmental
sustainability, and economic growth. Each gain we have made has reinforced other
advances; each crisis has reminded us how interdependent our challenges are, and
how important cooperation is to move forward.
If we were to stand for a minute and think of the tools that are available today
to this generation, we would see much to justify a high level of confidence. New
Information and Communication Technologies have eroded the barriers against
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knowledge-sharing and brought people together in new alliances. Remarkable
advances in renewable energy; new capabilities in health services, infrastructure,
and education; and not least, the emergence of powerful and rising economies in
the South: these and other realities are now the global engines for growth.
Distinguished delegates,
Our world now faces complex problems in the areas most basic to human life
and welfare: water, energy, and food. We need cooperative, integrated solutions,
as we cope with much less to meet much greater needs.
We in Jordan have first-hand knowledge of these urgent global challenges.
Our people's per-capita share of fresh water is three times lower than the global
water-poverty line. Ninety-six percent of our energy needs are imported, draining
almost 20 percent of GDP. Our population grew ten-fold over the past six decades;
and per capita, our country hosts the highest number of refugees and displaced
persons in the world.
Addressing the water-energy-population nexus is a priority for the Kingdom.
We seek to create a model path of sustainable development, one that will meet the
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full range of national needs: inclusive growth, enhanced opportunity, improved
standards of living, and the protection of natural resources and the environment.
To meet these goals, Jordan designed a pioneering green-economy scoping
study, the first in our region. It identifies six sectors with high potential for
transition to green economy: energy, water, transport, agriculture, tourism and
waste management. Priorities for the next decade include innovative and
sustainable options like renewable energy, water treatment and desalination
projects, and new, energy-efficient practices in cities and transportation systems.
A green economy is a youth economy. We know that economic growth is not
just about the numbers, and it is not an end in itself. Real growth is inclusive and
sustainable growth, which can build a future for everyone, men and women, and,
especially, young people, who are 70 percent of our population. A central concern
is job creation. Meeting that challenge requires an enhanced trade environment,
deepened trade arrangements, and improved opportunities for education, training
and SME development.
A green economy is also a pro-poor economy. Allowing growth to reach the
marginalized and least advantaged in the society is a key condition for political
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stability and sustainable growth policies. For Jordan, political and economic
reform are ultimately inseparable. Participation builds stake holding in a stable,
thriving future. This is vital for the consensual, evolutionary reform path to which
Jordan has committed.
Finally, a green economy is an integrated economy, one that sustains the
environment and protects natural capital. Jordan therefore supports work done to
include Natural Capital Accounting as a measure for use alongside income
measures such as GDP. This should be part and parcel of efforts to develop a new
sustainable development index and Sustainable Development Goals.
Distinguished delegates,
For all our countries, green pathways will require considerable support and
financing. Moreover, today's global challenges for the environment, water, and
energy can be expected to worsen with climate change. It is imperative that all
financial, technological and capacity-development initiatives are able to channel
appropriate resources to developing countries.
There is a need for a dynamic and enabling international development model
that can enhance cooperation in areas such as finance, technology-transfer, debt
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relief, and trade. This must include full and effective participation of developing
countries in global decision-making. Such a model will help the private sector and
finance ministers operationalise policies and targets for developing countries, by
mobilising financial resources that are getting more scarce due to current economic
crises and global austerity measures.
Innovative financial and technical resources are needed to help implement
national green development plans and develop green industry. Such 'green finance'
can set the right value, incentives and revenues in various key sectors in addition to
directing debt-swap arrangements for integrated green-growth programs in energy,
water and environment.
Green growth is also a multi-stakeholder effort. This requires an effective
partnership with the private sector and regional as well as international investors.
In this regard, we welcome and encourage the role of the international financial
institutions and regional funds in support of the partnerships undertaken with the
private sector.
Distinguished Delegates,
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The Arab Spring has opened a new chapter in my region's long and rich
history. 'Dignity, Opportunity, Democracy and Peace' are the benchmarks by
which our people will consider their future and judge our ability to meet their
legitimate aspirations and lead them forward. Green growth is key to success.
Sustainable development, however, also requires sustainable peace. At a time
when the Arab region is undergoing major transformations, regional crises cannot
be ignored or forgotten. No country in the region has been affected by the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict as much as Jordan. But our entire world has an interest
in ending this conflict with a just peace: a two-state solution, with a sovereign,
viable and independent Palestine, on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its
capital – collective peace and security guarantees for Israel -- and a final
settlement, in accordance with U.N. resolutions, and the agreed resolution of all
final status issues.
Distinguished Delegates,
Twenty years ago our countries came together to set a new pathway towards
sustainable development. Today we are still facing challenges; some old, some
new. These challenges will have to be addressed in politics and policies, in social
life, in environmental practices, in cultural values and in economic life. We know
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we have the tools; now let us build the platforms that enable our people and our
economies to reach new heighs.
Thank you.
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