Amman’s Vision for a Carbon-Neutral and Resilient Future
- lanamayasa22
- Jan 28, 2024
- 4 min read
Amman, the capital and largest city of Jordan, is facing multiple challenges as it strives to provide a high quality of life for its residents. The city is experiencing rapid population growth, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution, water scarcity, and vulnerability to climate change impacts. To address these issues, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has developed a comprehensive and ambitious plan to transform Amman into a carbon-neutral and resilient city by 2050.
The Amman Climate Action Plan (ACAP) is a local government document that represents a first step on the path to creating a sustainable future. It lays out an approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 while expanding services and meeting the needs of the growing city. The plan is based on a shared vision for collaboration among the government, private sector, development partners, and residents of Amman.
The ACAP focuses on three main sectors that contribute to the majority of the city’s emissions: transportation, energy efficiency, and waste. For each sector, the plan identifies specific goals, actions, and indicators to measure progress. The plan also envisages different timeframes for implementation: short-term actions that can be completed in 10 years, medium-term actions that require 10-15 years, and long-term actions that need 15-30 years.
Transportation
The transportation sector accounts for about 40% of the city’s emissions, mainly due to the high dependence on private cars and the low efficiency of public transport. To reduce emissions from this sector, the ACAP aims to improve the transportation and mobility network by planning and building the city’s first rapid bus transit system, as well as expanding and integrating other modes of public transport, such as buses, taxis, and light rail. The plan also promotes the use of electric vehicles, both public and private, by providing charging stations, incentives, and regulations. Moreover, the plan encourages walking and cycling as core modes of mobility in the city center, by improving the infrastructure, safety, and accessibility of pedestrian and bike lanes.
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency sector accounts for about 35% of the city’s emissions, mainly due to the high consumption of electricity for lighting, cooling, and heating in buildings. To reduce emissions from this sector, the ACAP aims to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, both public and private, by implementing green building guidelines, standards, and incentives. The plan also aims to improve the efficiency of street lighting, by replacing conventional bulbs with LED bulbs, and to increase the use of solar water heaters, by providing subsidies, loans, and awareness campaigns.
Waste
The waste sector accounts for about 25% of the city’s emissions, mainly due to the decomposition of organic waste in landfills and the incineration of medical waste. To reduce emissions from this sector, the ACAP aims to manage waste based on the 4Rs (reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery), by implementing waste sorting, composting, and recycling programs, as well as creating fossil-fuel-free energy in the Al Ghabawi waste to energy facility. The plan also aims to reduce the generation of waste, by promoting a circular economy, banning single-use plastics, and raising awareness among the public and businesses.
Cross-Cutting Themes
In addition to the three main sectors, the ACAP also addresses some cross-cutting themes that are essential for achieving the city’s vision. These include:
Citizen engagement: The plan aims to involve the citizens of Amman in the climate action process, by launching a city-wide awareness program about climate change and GAM’s ongoing efforts, as well as creating platforms for dialogue, feedback, and participation.
Renewable energy: The plan aims to expand the production and consumption of renewable energy in the city, by integrating solar photovoltaics (PVs) to provide residential and commercial buildings with the majority of their energy needs, and by enabling GAM to produce its renewable energy from solar, wind, and biogas sources.
Water: The plan aims to use water efficiently and sustainably in the city, by implementing rainwater harvesting, creating a storm water master plan, planting drought-tolerant plants in parks and public areas, and using efficient irrigation systems. The plan also aims to treat wastewater effectively, by implementing greywater recycling, using recycled greywater or captured rainwater in all municipal green sites, and capturing gases from wastewater treatment plants for energy use.
Urban planning and land use: The plan aims to optimize the urban form and function of the city, by focusing new development areas on public transit-oriented corridors, increasing the green spaces, parks, and urban forestry in the city, and encouraging the use of underutilized land for new buildings. The plan also aims to enhance the city’s resilience to climate change impacts, such as heat waves, floods, and dust storms, by expanding anti-desertification projects and green urban infrastructure, and surrounding the city with a ring of trees to protect from dust and wind.
Conclusion
The ACAP is a visionary and comprehensive document that outlines the steps and actions needed to transform Amman into a carbon-neutral and resilient city by 2050. The plan is based on a collaborative and participatory approach that involves all stakeholders and sectors in the city. The plan is also aligned with the national and international commitments and frameworks on climate change, such as the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the New Urban Agenda. By implementing the ACAP, Amman will not only reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change, but also improve its quality of life, economic development, social cohesion, and environmental health.
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