The path is cleared, but the journey is long. Challenges of climate change policy and management in Jordan

Abstract

Climate change issues pose significant policy and management challenges in developing countries. This study examines the salient policy and governance challenges confronting Jordan in its climate change response. Through comprehensive qualitative analysis on the basis of semi‐structured interviews with high‐level government officials, international development agents, and academic researchers, it explicates the multilayered institutional and systemic barriers impeding effective climate governance. Key obstacles include institutional fragmentation and siloed organizational structures, deficits in institutional memory and capacity, and inadequate inter‐agency coordination. Financial constraints stem from limited fiscal resources and persistent difficulties in mobilizing international climate finance, thereby constraining policy efficacy. Additionally, the research highlights bureaucratic inertia and communication breakdowns that undermine stakeholder engagement and operational synergy. The findings underscore the urgency for a strategic, multi‐scalar governance framework that integrates policy coherence with operational capacity, fostering resilience and adaptive capacity within Jordan's institutional landscape amid complex global climate dynamics.