AMMAN- Environmentalists from the Mediterranean region on Monday concluded a two-day forum by launching the Amman Call for Eco-Cities and forming a committee to set standards and criteria for environment-friendly towns.
Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said the panel will conduct visits to different cities across the world that have succeeded in adopting one or more environment-friendly elements.
"There are cities that have environment commissioners and adopt environment-friendly procedures such as Venice. A visit to one of these cities will provide the committee with a success story to be adopted in the criteria," Irani told The Jordan Times yesterday.
He said the committee members represent governments, NGOs and UN agencies, who will meet regularly to set time-bound goals.
"Some mayors and decision makers in the involved cities will set time frames for creating green spots in their cities," Irani noted, adding that the committee will be responsible for following up the achievements of these goals.
The Amman Call for Eco-Cities identifies environmental issues affecting urban areas, such as increasing population and the high rate of natural resource consumption and what is needed to mitigate them.
The document urges local governments and municipalities to develop and enforce legislation that promotes actions, programmes and projects that reduce air and noise pollution, increase the area of and accessibility to open green spaces and embark on campaigns for planting suitable trees in metropolitan cities.
In addition, it calls on concerned authorities to enhance and support efforts put forth by the private sector to develop alternative transport modes, greener buildings, energy efficiency and renewable energy use, water conservation and water recycling processes and technologies.
The document also invites international agencies such as, but not limited to, the UN and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, to support and recognise eco-city authorities, NGOs and community-based organisations working in the field.
"To guarantee the implementation of Amman Call for Eco-Cities, we decided to hold the forum every two years. This will allow us to study developments related to environment protection and revise them," Irani concluded.
By Khetam Malkawi
© Jordan Times 2008
