RSS
The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) was established in 1970 in accordance with a Royal Decree. RSS is a non-for-profit institution enjoying financial and administrative independence. It aims at conducting scientific and applied research serve to the development process in Jordan with special attention to industrial research and services. It also aims at providing specialized technical consultations and services to the public and private sectors and at disseminating awareness in the scientific and technology fields. It seeks to develop scientific and technical cooperation with similar institutions with the Arab world and internationally.
The Royal Scientific Society developed its activities concentrating on four major areas, namely scientific and technological research and development, technical services and consultations, standards and specifications and human resources development.
With reference to climate change adaptation and mitigation, RSS is involved into the following:
A: The RSS is represented in all national committees which are responsible to develop the national strategies to sustain access to improved water supply sources despite increased water scarcity induced by climate change; and to strengthen adaptive capacity for health protection and food security to climate change effects under water scarcity conditions, these committees are:
– Climate change national committee is established by Environment Ministry on 2011 to set up the National Agenda for Jordan over the next coming five years.
– Climate change committee is established by Health Ministry on 2011 to set up a national strategy to adapt the effect of climate change on human and society from different aspects such as food security, nutrition, quality of drinking water….etc.
B: The Royal Scientific Society is considered as a first pioneer organization in Jordan which established a Clean Production Unit (CP-Unit) in February 2004 with the support of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The CP-Unit orients itself towards the corporate identity and mission of the RSS and Environmental Research Centre (ERC) respectively. It provides modern environmental services that assist stakeholders from different sectors in Jordan and in the Middle East region to conserve and effectively utilize their resources. More than 20 case studies have been conducted for the private sector such as metal, food, paints and dairy industries, hotels and restaurants. All these studies are a considered as a mitigation actions to the effect of climates change in the region.
C: RSS has participated in preparation the national communication which is submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
D: RSS has conducted many projects in response to climate change and water scarcity. For example, RSS is currently is conducting a project titled : Review evidence on minimum household water security requirements for health protection both nationally and globally since 2011 with a support from the World Health Organisation/ Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities (WHO/CEHA). This is a project is part of the Joint Programme “Adaptation to Climate Change to sustain Jordan’s MDG Achievements” which is developed by Four UN agencies, namely, WHO, UNDP, UNESCO and FAO.
E: Project for Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation has been constructed through the Program, Grant Aid for Environment and Climate sponsored by Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), This project is aiming to aggressively cooperate in developing countries’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also to support developing countries that receive serious damage from climate change. Also, this project will save 25% of the total electricity consumption for the Royal Scientific Society.
