Academics and experts stressed at the University of Jordan (UJ) the importance of a Jordanian-German cooperation in the development of water projects in Jordan dating back to the middle of the last century.
They pointed out, during the eighth environmental conference, which was held on Monday, October 8th, to the importance of this conference that deals with a number of challenges that concern the scarcity of water and environmental pollution in the region.
The conference, which is organized by Department of Geology at UJ in cooperation with German-Arab Scientific Forum for Environmental Studies, addressed water resources and water conservation, global warming, quality of air and soil and environmental protection in the MENA region.
UJ President Prof. Abdel karim Al Qudah in his opening speech said environmental pollution has direct effects on human life and sustainable development, he pointed that the issues related to water sources are of the main challenges that face many countries including Jordan.
He also commended cooperation with the German side in executing projects that helped finding solutions to water issues, and air and soil pollution, in addition to the development of environmental education and research.
Alqudah pointed out that Jordan is facing increased demands on water consumption due to the rise in population. He emphasized the University’s keenness in supporting scientific research that aim to solve environmental and water issues.
For her part, the President of German Jordanian University Dr. Manar Fayyad pointed to the water crisis in Jordan and role of the University in supporting national efforts to overcome it, pointing to environment, water and energy projects that the university helped develop.
For his part, the President of the Forum Dr. Fathi Al – Zeraini addressed efforts of the Forum and its progress in solidifying the relationships of scientific exchange between German and Arab institutes in issues concerning water and environment. He warned that the scarcity of water in Arab Regions could lead to statuses of instability in the region. He added, the climate change threatens to elevate the current problems that relate to the conserving of high quality water, a matter which calls for the doubling of opportunities to find and exchange knowledge between experts from Arab and developed countries.
For his part, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Eng. Ali Sobh discussed the problem of water scarcity in Jordan resulting from the increased demands due to forced misplacement, lack of rainwater and climate change. He pointed to the plans and programs that the Ministry is developing to supply the Kingdom with drinkable water and water for industrial and agricultural uses; of these programs is the Red Sea water desalination.
For his part, the Advisor to the Minister of Environment for Technical Affairs, Dr. Jihad Al-Sawa’ir pointed to challenges of climate change that include a rise in temperatures and the increase in the proportion of the area affected by drought and the decline of the ecosystem. He stressed that Jordan is one of the countries that has enacted legislation and laws related to energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation.
The conference discusses over a two-day period 36 papers addressing water sources, the ways to protect it, and planning and distribution of their sources, methods of treatment and reuse of wastewater and climate change / global warming.
Specialists and academic from Europe, the United States of America, and Arab countries participated in the conference, in addition to postgraduate students from different majors from UJ.