Water-Energy-Food-Climate Change Nexus in The Arab Cities // The Case of Amman City, Jordan
By Maha Al-Zu'bi. The primary objective of this research is to propose an integrated climate policy framework for Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) by conceptualising ways in which the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus approach might help to achieve that objective. The research adopted a case study method using mixed techniques (interviews, ethnography, and survey) to consider various contextual factors (e.g., Arab region, Jordan, and Jabal Al Natheef community in Amman city). Data was examined from different perspectives to aid in validating the conclusions.
In general, results show eight factors affecting Arab cities from advancing the WEF nexus approach: centralized governance, top-down planning and incoherent policy processes, regional instability, the socio-economic conditions, climate change impact, urbanization, scarcity of resources, and demographics. More specifically, in GAM, study findings disclosed many factors that would hinder the transition from the current “silo” to the proposed “nexus” approach. Some of these factors are related to the nature of relationships between GAM and central government; others are specific to GAM’s policymaking framework. Despite these challenges, some opportunities already exist that might advance the GAM climate policy framework, such as Jordan’s Decentralization Law and Jordan’s national climate change policy. However, downscaling and exploring the WEF nexus at the household level demonstrates discrepancies between householders and policy-makers in terms of WEF perceptions and priorities, low level of climate-change-related awareness, low level of participation, the significant relation between gender and the WEF nexus approach, and householders can make climate-friendly decisions in their daily routine.
Exploration of the WEF nexus at various spatial levels points toward elements of integrated climate policy framework for GAM, such as enhancing the legal framework, establishing the Sustainability Office, enhancing communication and policy coordination, enhancing awareness and maintaining urban climate change dialogue, empowering the community, securing financial resources, and enhancing the policy-making process. Locating GAM as the focal point of intervention will provide policy-makers and practitioners with the necessary information and evidence base to make decisions that promote sustainable development. Since most of the Arab cities shared similar challenges, the research findings are also transferable and applicable to other Arab cities.
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University of Calgary website (open access)
Published
January 2017
In
The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations at the University of Calgary