The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan launched its ten-year National Climate Change Health Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (HNAP), joining the roster of first countries to climate-proof its health systems. The comprehensive roadmap, spanning from 2024 to 2034, outlines Jordan’s strategic response to climate-related health risks across seven priority areas—airborne and respiratory diseases, water- and food-borne illnesses, vector-borne diseases, nutrition, heatwaves, occupational health, and mental health.

Bringing the vision of “Health for All” to life amidst escalating climate threats required coordinated leadership from Jordan’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment. The methodology placed strong emphasis on assessing vulnerabilities across the health sector, socioeconomic scenarios, climate-sensitive disease burden, and climate change impacts for target health outcomes. This laid the foundation for developing an HNAP designed to strengthen climate-resilient health services and raise the profile of health consideration in multi-sectoral climate action.

The continued increase in temperature has cascading effects, such as the accelerated growth of pathogenic microorganisms, contamination of water sources, and loss of soil moisture—factors that collectively heighten the risks of poor health outcomes, food insecurity, and reduced access to safe drinking water. The HNAP identified various measures to mitigate climate change vulnerabilities across the identified priority areas.

On airborne and respiratory diseases, the Ministry of Health advocates enhancing health-related disaster management programs, expanding healthcare capacities on climate-sensitive diseases, developing climate-informed respiratory disease control programs, and establishing early warning systems.

For water-, food-, and vector-borne illnesses, as well as nutrition, recommendations include mobilizing synergies between health and climate actors, establishing sustainable nutritional surveillance systems, and reinforcing supplementation programs for high-risk populations. The HNAP also identified the development of the Heat Health Warning System to enhance healthcare services and public awareness during extreme heat events. 

The strategy calls for the development of a comprehensive integrated sun protection program and the establishment of occupational health surveillance systems to address climate change impacts on occupational health and safety. Finally, in the area of mental health, the Ministry of Health aims to scale up the number of climate and mental health clinics nationwide and to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals to address mental health challenges linked to climate stressors.

Jordan’s adoption of this roadmap reinforces its role as a regional frontrunner in mainstreaming climate considerations into national health policies and planning.