King Abdullah II declared on 22 September at the UN General Assembly that any threat to the water security of Jordan constitutes a threat to its national security. The monarch addressed the international body to define the protection of natural resources as a central pillar of the kingdom’s stability. By framing water access as a core sovereign concern, the statement shifts the internal approach to resource management. Officials in Amman now align environmental protection policies with existing defense protocols to address long-term scarcity. This policy adjustment follows a period of heightened concern regarding the availability of water across the country. Government planners intend to integrate these security directives into the broader governance framework to ensure the stability of the kingdom.
Integrating Security and Environment
Dr. Mohammad Salem Al-Huwaiti, a Professor of Environmental Engineering at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, proposed that national security in the 21st century should rest on five integrated dimensions: water, food, energy, health, and environmental and climate security. He stated, "The environment is no longer only about protecting trees and limiting pollution. It is now bound up with national security, human health, economic sustainability, water and food security, and the capacity of states to withstand crises."
King Abdullah II directed the government on 7 September to prepare a full, unified national strategy for climate finance with the private sector. This directive aims to structure how the kingdom attracts and manages investment toward climate-related goals. Omar Shoshan, President of the Federation of Environmental Societies, commented on this shift in priorities, noting, "The next phase demands a change in outlook: treating the environment as an opportunity for investment, innovation and development rather than an economic cost."
The Ministry of Environment’s 2026-2029 strategy formalizes these objectives. The plan covers green growth, climate action, environmentally sound management, ecosystem sustainability, environmental awareness, and institutional performance. These pillars are intended to guide national policy over the next three years to ensure that environmental governance remains aligned with broader state stability.
Dr. Mohammad Ayadat, President of the National Center for Environmental Justice, emphasized the necessity of this administrative evolution. He stated, "Water and natural resources are no longer separate service or environmental files but essential elements in protecting national interests." By codifying these priorities, the government seeks to move beyond traditional environmental management toward a model that integrates ecological preservation directly into the apparatus of state security. The current framework serves as a roadmap for how the kingdom intends to manage its resources while addressing the pressures of climate change and economic development.
