How is climate change affecting Sahab?
Sahab, a rapidly expanding industrial city in Jordan, is experiencing the complex and growing impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures have significantly increased electricity demand—especially for cooling during long, hot summers—placing a heavy load on municipal infrastructure and increasing financial pressure on households. Climate change is also intensifying existing environmental challenges, including air pollution from surrounding factories and stone-cutting industries, which release dust and emissions that affect public health. Erratic weather patterns, such as unseasonal heatwaves and reduced rainfall, are also stressing urban systems and increasing the vulnerability of low-income communities. In parallel, the limited availability of green infrastructure and shrinking green spaces reduce the city’s natural capacity to absorb heat and pollution, further worsening environmental conditions.
For Sahab, climate change is not only an environmental issue but a pressing urban development challenge. Its consequences are visible in the daily lives of residents—impacting their health, productivity, and well-being—underscoring the urgent need for integrated, sustainable, and climate-resilient solutions at the municipal level.
What action are you taking to address climate change?
Sahab was the first Jordanian municipality to join the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy in 2015. We developed and implemented a Sustainable Energy Action Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. Our efforts include transitioning to LED street lighting, encouraging the use of solar panels in public buildings, and engaging local industries in energy audits and green practices. We are also working with civil society to promote awareness and behavioral change. These initiatives are fully aligned with His Majesty King Abdullah II’s Economic Modernization Vision, which emphasizes green growth and sustainable development. Our strategy integrates climate goals with job creation, cost savings, and better urban planning, ensuring long-term resilience and prosperity for Sahab.
What are the benefits? Why is it important?
Implementing climate actions in Sahab brings tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits. By improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy use, we are reducing municipal electricity costs and mitigating our carbon footprint. These efforts help improve air quality and public health, while also generating green job opportunities—particularly for youth and women in emerging sectors like solar energy and waste management. Importantly, these actions build climate resilience and empower local communities to be active participants in sustainable urban development. Sahab’s leadership in this field sets an example for other cities in Jordan and the region. By aligning our municipal strategy with the national Economic Modernization Vision and global climate frameworks, we are demonstrating that local governments can be powerful drivers of transformation, serving both people and the planet.