Amman, Jordan: Amman Climate Academy and Park

In 2023, the City of Amman, Jordan, was selected as a grantee of the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF), the MMC’s instrument to channel international funding directly to cities to implement inclusive projects of their own design. With support from the GCF, the City of Amman is promoting refugee inclusion and bolstering its climate resilience through the construction and operationalization of an accessible and climate-smart public park for refugee and Jordanian children. The park features the city’s first ever climate academy to teach hundreds of Amman’s youngest residents about environmental stewardship. 

Jordan is home to over three million refugees and migrants, predominantly from Syria, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq. Over 200,000 Syrian refugees reside in greater Amman, more than Jordan’s two largest refugee camps combined.  

Simultaneously, climate change is a critical challenge for Amman. The city is vulnerable to extreme water scarcity, heat waves, landslides, and flash floods, which damage key infrastructure and put refugees at risk of further displacement. Water, air, and soil pollution and other forms of environmental degradation also present a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of Amman’s residents, especially children and the elderly. 

With support from the Global Cities Fund, Amman created an inclusive, climate-responsive public space for refugee and Jordanian children, incorporating a children’s climate academy to foster environmental awareness and stewardship from an early age.

The Greater Amman Municipality established the city’s first Children’s Climate Academy, which is teaching Amman’s youngest generation about environmental stewardship. Since early 2026, the Academy has offered hands-on workshops on topics such as sustainable gardening, recycling, and responsible consumption habits. The Academy’s physical infrastructure reflects its climate education goals: the facility is energy efficient and was built using sustainable materials.

The Children’s Climate Academy is located at Maysaloon Park within the Al-Hussein Refugee Camp. Amman has rehabilitated the park so that it offers accessible, climate-adaptive, and age- and gender-responsive public space for refugee and Jordanian children to play. The park incorporates green infrastructure, such as permeable surfaces to reduce water runoff, wastewater recycling, and flood-prevention mechanisms. In addition to a children’s playground, reading area, sports pitches, and walking paths, the park also features shaded areas where caregivers can rest and relax.  The park is maintained on a daily basis, including regular cleaning and care for the trees and vegetation, helping keep the space safe, welcoming, and usable for the wider community. 

The Children’s Climate Academy and Park provides a safe and welcoming space for refugee and Jordanian children to play, interact, and learn while cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship and inclusive climate action.

To date, the Academy has engaged 166 children aged 5 to 8 from eight nationalities across seven public schools, with growing interest from additional schools. Through workshops on topics including smart cities, recycling and waste management, road safety, and robotics, children have explored practical ways to contribute to safer and more sustainable communities. Public school teachers participate alongside students and receive materials that can be adapted and replicated in their own classrooms, helping extend the Academy’s reach. The Academy is also fostering collaboration across the City of Amman’s Project Sustainability, Smart Cities, Traffic, Environmental, and Social Units. 

Maysaloon Park, where the Academy is located, has become a popular, safe, and accessible space. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and equipped with lighting and 24-hour security, enabling children, families, and other community members to use it throughout the day and evening. Its design and amenities were informed by community input, helping ensure the space responds to the needs and priorities of local residents.