AFED Green Economy Report at Jordanian University

Saab: Green economy supports development and creates jobs

Amman, 11/5/2012

AFED report on Green Economy was presented in Amman at an event hosted by the University of Jordan (JU), and organized by the Jordan Environment Society (JES). This was a part of a regional tour to present AFED report and discuss its recommendations with the public and officials across the Arab region. The fourth AFED annual report, entitled Green Economy in a Changing Arab World, was first released at AFED's annual conference held in Beirut in October 2011. The Amman symposium, held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Business at the University of Jordan, attracted hundreds of students, professors, officials and business leaders, and was characterized by lively debate in which the audience actively participated.

Photo Caption: Amman meeting, L-R: Khaled Irani, Adnan Badran, Mohammed Al Masalha and Najib Saab

In an opening statement, the University's Vice President Dr. Hala Al-Khaimi endorsed the findings of AFED report, and pointed out the significance of presenting it at the Business School, as environmental policies should be based on science and supported by economic measures. Dean of the Business School Dr. Mousa Lozi announced that the school will be soon including green economy in its curricula. President of JES Dr. Mohammed Al Masalha, who is also Dean of the Faculty of International Studies at JU, welcomed the guests and announced that he has already included the introduction of AFED's report as mandatory reading material in his faculty.

Saab presenting the report.

Presenting the results of the report, AFED Secretary General Najib Saab indicated that Green Economy is the right path to achieve sustainable change in Arab countries, saying that "one of the main reasons that drove people to the streets in many Arab countries was the demand for jobs, and the AFED report clearly shows that transitioning to a green economy will generate decent and sustainable job opportunities". He listed savings and job opportunities which transitioning to green economy can generate across the region, and stressed the importance of public policies.

The session was concluded by a panel discussion chaired by Dr. Al Masalha, with the participation of AFED Board Chairman and former Prime Minister Dr. Adnan Badran, former Energy and Environment Minister Khaled Irani and Najib Saab. Dr. Badran stressed the urgency to move to renewable energy, elaborating on the example of Jordan, where the energy bill reached 4 billion Dinars totally imported, amounting to one third of the GDP. Commenting on Irani's warning that Jordan will not be able to achieve the goal of having 10% renewable energy by 2020, up from the current 2%, Badran said that the deadline should be shifted to 2015 rather than delayed, accompanied by radical measures to encourage investment in solar and wind energy.