From Extraction to Restoration: Rethinking Policy for the Jordan River and the Dead Sea in the Age of Climate Change

The Dead Sea and the Lower Jordan River are unique ecological systems of global significance and shared natural and cultural heritage for Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. Decades of over-extraction, pollution, and mineral exploitation have severely degraded these environments, while climate change accelerates water loss, ecological collapse, and economic vulnerability. As the current Dead Sea mineral concession approaches its end, a rare window of opportunity opens to rethink the governance, restoration, and sustainable use of this critical region.  This session will bring together voices from science, policy, civil society, and local communities to examine the multi-faceted dimensions of Dead Sea and Jordan River rehabilitation — from ecological restoration and sustainable tourism to agriculture, cross-border cooperation, and climate adaptation. Discussions will address the policy, economic, and governance choices facing the region, and how a shift from extraction to restoration can support environmental resilience, equitable development, and regional stability.