Jordan is one of the leading countries in the developing world and the region that has look after the local environment since 1970s. The remarkable step was the establishment of the Department of Environment in 1980. The leadership of the country always insisted to adhere to the international community and United Nations requirements and instruments concerning all issues especially environmental protection. The Environmental policy of Jordan is defined by the National Environment Strategy. It is considered an important national document and source book, and the National Socio-Economic Development Plan as well as other similar level planning documents related to economy, agriculture and health sectors. These create a common foundation for the development and implementation of the national sustainable development policy.

Jordan enjoys a fragile eco-system: potable water is scarce and a very short coast line of less than 27 km; arable land is limited; and energy sources are few. Thus, protecting natural environment and the base of national economy is very important. These are directly linked to regional and global environmental pollution and degradation. The environmental policy of Jordan emphasizes on the coordination effort on regional and global basis in close cooperation with concerned international bodies and agencies addressing all global environmental issues, such as Ozone Layer Depletion; Persistent Organic pollutants (POPs) and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Improved quality of life for the people of Jordan, economic growth, protecting the environment and maintaining the natural environmental-balance are related together and very important to achieve only sustainable developments. Such a rational approach should promote environmental protection and sustainable development strategy in Jordan.

The Government of Jordan is committed to manage POPs chemicals with the main aim of protecting its people and environment. As an active member of the international community, Jordan will also undertake essential measures for protecting the global environment from negative impacts of dissemination of POPs compounds throughout the world. It will implement, in the future, most practical and appropriate activities concerning the prevention of spreading of POPs into the environment and eliminate POPs from local environment in compliance with the provisions of the Stockholm Convention. It is anticipated that the Jordanian environmental policy will take the following initiatives in order to achieve sound environmental management of POPs compounds in all sectors of the economy:

• Reduce possibility of human exposure to POPs compounds.
• Eliminate intentional and unintentional releases of POPs into the environment by applying the principle of best environmental practices.
• Upgrade existing institutional and legal frameworks for proper management of POPs.
• Develop structure for long-term monitoring programme of POPs residues in biological and physical environment to determine the present status and to develop future trends.
• Ensure full inspection of suspected contaminated sites through field investigations and tests.
• Phase out the use of POPs compounds as requested by the convention.
• Eliminate existing stockpiles and wastes of POPs compounds in environmentally sound manner.
• Intensify public awareness campaigns about detrimental effects of POPs compounds to human health.
• Continue international cooperation on POPs management and information exchange.
• Develop efficient cooperation between stakeholders and the concerned governmental institution to promote successful solution to POPs problems.