The Kingdom placed ninth globally in local environmental governance, yet ranked far lower in material footprint productivity (101st) and renewable energy consumption (142nd).

Officials and experts said that the mixed performance highlights a persistent gap between strong institutional frameworks and the realities of implementation on the ground.

Minister of Environment Ayman Suleiman said the GKI results confirm Jordan’s strong governance foundations but also underscore the challenges of translating policy achievements into measurable progress in energy use and resource efficiency.

He said that the ministry is adopting a “participatory approach” that brings together the public sector, private sector, NGOs, municipalities and local communities at all stages of planning and execution.

“Environmental governance in Jordan is demonstrated through real engagement at the local level, particularly through municipalities and communities implementing projects that respond to their needs and align with national priorities,” he said.

Suleiman pointed to several policies already in place, covering environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity and green-economy transition, adding that green growth has now been mainstreamed into the strategies of major sectors, including energy.

Under Jordan’s Green Growth National Action Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), renewable-energy projects have been identified and implemented by relevant agencies.

“Electricity produced from renewables now forms 27 per cent of the total electricity generated in Jordan,” the minister said, adding that this progress contributes significantly to the Kingdom’s target of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 31 per cent by 2030.

However, he acknowledged that the energy-consumption indicator in the GKI highlights the need for wider adoption across households, transport and industry.

On material footprint productivity, Suleiman said that Jordan is developing a National Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan, and has already implemented initiatives across several waste streams under the Waste Management Framework Law.

“The ministry is also working closely with the Ministry of Industry and the Jordan Chamber of Industry to design practical legislation that supports both industrial growth and environmental protection,” he said.

He highlighted pilot studies conducted with the Royal Scientific Society to help companies reduce costs, emissions and waste while improving production efficiency. “These studies create a foundation for accelerating circular-economy practices and improving resource efficiency in key industries.”

Suleiman also highlighted Jordan’s ranking in global environmental governance, describing it as “not reflective” of the strength of the country’s climate-governance architecture. He said Jordan is pursuing a whole-of-economy approach, integrating climate action into national planning through the Climate Change Policy 2022–2050 and NDC 3.0.

He pointed to growing cooperation with the Green Climate Fund, the World Bank and other institutions, and highlighted Jordan’s position as the top performer in the MENA region for climate action.

“We will continue strengthening partnerships and expanding our participation in international climate alliances and negotiations,” he said, adding that Jordan is building a stronger regional voice on issues such as mobility, renewable energy, nature-based solutions and climate justice.

The minister also noted ongoing reforms to the Environmental Classification and Licensing Regulation, intended to modernise standards and encourage wider adoption of environmental-management systems such as ISO 14001. “This will support the national shift towards a green economy, enhance public confidence and improve resource efficiency across industrial and service sectors.”

Strong governance, slow implementation

Environmental experts said that the GKI results confirm the ministry’s institutional progress but also reveal structural challenges that hinder implementation.

Omar Shoshan, Chairman of the Jordan Environmental Union, said that Jordan’s high ranking in local governance reflects improved regulatory frameworks and monitoring systems.

However, he warned that the low renewable-energy consumption score exposes “deep structural barriers” such as limited grid capacity, inconsistent incentives and insufficient financing mechanisms for green-transition projects.

Shoshan added that Jordan’s weak performance in material-footprint productivity shows that resource-intensive production models still dominate major industries. “Jordan’s environmental achievements are largely policy-driven, but economic transformation remains slow.”

Water and environment specialist Muna Hindiyeh agreed that the gap between governance and implementation is most visible in energy consumption patterns, adding that the transport sector’s reliance on petroleum products, regulatory constraints on rooftop solar and slow uptake of clean technologies in heavy industries continue to limit progress.

Hindiyeh said that Jordan’s strong sustainability ranking reflects improvements in legislation, waste-water treatment, air-quality monitoring and institutional energy-efficiency programmes. However, she noted that industries still lack incentives to adopt circular-economy models. “Progress has been top-down; for real change, economic sectors must shift their production systems.”

“Jordan has strong policies and institutional frameworks. The real test now is moving from planning to sustained, financed and impactful implementation,” Suleiman said.