Jordan’s Green Industrial Shift Will Help Protect the Ozone Layer

In the heart of Jordan's industrial sector, a quiet revolution has been taking place-one that is transforming how businesses operate, protecting the planet, and creating a new path for sustainable manufacturing. Thanks to close collaboration with the private sector, the country reduced its national consumption of ozone-depleting substances by 87% (World Bank).

For years, Jordan's foam, refrigeration, and air conditioning manufacturers-employing thousands of people-relied on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to produce their goods. These chemicals emit powerful greenhouse gases fueling climate change and damage the ozone layer: the most used HCFC is nearly 2,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide (UNEP). Between 2006 and 2010, Jordan's HCFC consumption surged to 1,405 metric tons, nearly doubling in just four years, driven in part by a severe summer heat wave and growing demand for air conditioning (World Bank).

With support from the World Bank, Jordan transformed this environmental threat into an opportunity for green innovation. The Jordan Ozone Depleting Substances HCFC Phase-Out Project (ODS3), implemented from 2013 to 2024, marked a decisive step in the country's commitment under the Montreal Protocol-an international treaty designed to protect the Earth's ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

As a signatory, Jordan pledged to phase out HCFCs by 2030. The ODS3 project turned that promise into action by helping businesses across the country transition to safer, climate-friendly alternatives-without compromising productivity or livelihoods. As the third in a series of World Bank-supported projects since 1994, ODS3 built on earlier results including legislation to ban HCFCs, monitoring and reducing ODS imports, and promoting the adoption of cleaner alternative technologies.

By the end of the project, Jordan had successfully phased out two major types of HCFCs. This achievement came with significant climate co-benefits: more than 240,000 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions were avoided-the same as removing over 50,000 gasoline cars from the road for a year.

But behind these numbers are the stories of local businesses that took the leap.

Workers at air conditioning factory, Amman, Jordan, World Bank

Small Enterprises, Big Change

Out of the 48 enterprises that received support from the project, 40 were small and medium-sized businesses. Many operated in tight spaces, relied on just-in-time production, and had little room for error-let alone for experimenting with new substances. Yet with careful planning, technical support, and grant financing, they were able to replace ODS with substances that do not harm the Earth's ozone layer. While doing so, most businesses experienced additional benefits.

"We have upgraded our air conditioner production facilities with environmentally friendly equipment. This has had a major impact: boosting our productivity, earning us classification as green energy factories, and securing energy efficiency certificates in line with European Union standards," said Anas Ahmad Dawood, worker at the Mohammad Abu Haltam Group, Amman, Jordan.

The private sector demonstrated strong ownership and confidence in the green shift: over $1.76 million in private capital was mobilized from eight large companies to co-finance their transition. This underscored their willingness to invest in cleaner, safer technologies and take part in the country's commitment to the global environment.

A Collaborative Effort with Lasting Results

The success of ODS3 was made possible through deep collaboration between the World Bank, Jordan's Ministry of Environment, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the private sector. Jordan's National Ozone Unit was strengthened and now plays a leading role in enforcing ODS policies and monitoring industrial compliance. A nationwide ban was passed on the two most pervasive HCFCs-ensuring that the phase-out will endure and that gains are locked in for future generations.

The project's impact on participating companies was beyond its intended outcomes: businesses reported improved safety, higher productivity, and reduced waste after converting to non-ODS substances. Several were also able to access new export markets where products manufactured with HCFCs are banned.

Looking Ahead

The experience offers critical lessons for other nations seeking to meet their global environmental commitments while safeguarding jobs and economic resilience.

"Jordan's journey is not just a success story in environmental protection-it's a model for how countries can align sustainability with private sector development and industrial competitiveness," said Maria Sarraf, Environment Program Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the World Bank.

Jordan's ODS3 project is a testament to the power of environmental stewardship-showing that with the right partnerships and policies, countries can protect the planet while strengthening their economies.

World Bank TTLs on site: Majdi Omar Mohammad Salameh, Rama Chandra Reddy, Phoebe Spencer, and Frank Van Woerden