Environmental issues in Iran

File:Iranian Fire altar.jpg in Tehran is due to cars; the remaining 20% is due to factories and industry emissions.]]

Iran is one of the world's largest and most densely populated countries, spanning an area of approximately 1.7 million sq. km and a population of 91.5 million. Since 1966 Iran has experienced immense population growth, initially being recorded at 25,781,090 people, and totaling to 75,330,000 in 2010. The various climates, increased population growth, heavy reliance on fossil fuels, and refusal to commit to sustainability goals has extenuated Iran's vulnerability to ecological crisis and climate change.

Environmental issues in Iran include, especially in urban areas, vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents which contribute to poor air quality. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme ranked Iran at 117th place among 133 countries in terms of environmental indexes.[http://iran-daily.com/1385/2798/html/ Iran Daily – Front Page – 03/06/07]{{cite web|title=Iran Environment in Grave Danger|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/09/oct/1280.html|website=payvand.com|access-date=2009-10-28|archive-date=2020-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115042603/http://www.payvand.com/news/09/oct/1280.html|url-status=dead}} Water scarcity is also a concern since the increased temperatures and fluctuating precipitation levels associated with global warming can result in droughts or flooding that will further degrade the water availability.

Air pollution

{{Further|Air pollution in Iran}}File:Mercedes bus and Samand.jpg in Tehran]]The World Bank estimates losses inflicted on Iran's economy as a result of deaths caused by air pollution at $640 million, which is equal to 5.1 trillion rials or 0.57 percent of GDP.{{cite web|title=Iran Daily – Front Page – 03/06/07|url=http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1385/2798/html/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115065256/http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1385/2798/html/index.htm|archive-date=2007-11-15|access-date=2015-11-22}}{{Update inline|date=November 2020|reason=}} Diseases resulting from air pollution are inflicting losses estimated at $260 million per year or 2.1 trillion rials or 0.23 percent of the GDP on Iran's economy.

Most cars use leaded gasoline and lack emissions control equipment.[http://iran-daily.com/1386/2880/html/economy.htm Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 07/01/07] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506083012/http://iran-daily.com/1386/2880/html/economy.htm|date=2008-05-06}} Tehran is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities. However, buses and cars running on natural gas are planned to replace the existing public transportation fleet in the future. Also, energy prices are kept artificially low in Iran through heavy state subsidies, resulting in highly inefficient and polluting consumption patterns.{{cite web|date=28 September 2007|title=Atieh Bahar|url=http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resources/Environment.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000332/http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resources/Environment.htm|archive-date=2007-09-28}}{{cite web|title=Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 01/11/09|url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3313/html/economy.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318162410/http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3313/html/economy.htm|archive-date=2009-03-18|access-date=2016-02-19}} Traffic management, vehicle inspection, general use of electric bicycles and electronic government are also part of the solution.{{cite web|title=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx3j6U9Z9Ok|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607193719/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx3j6U9Z9Ok|archive-date=2010-06-07|via=YouTube}}

A rising incidence of respiratory illnesses prompted the city governments of Tehran and Arak, southwest of the capital, to institute air pollution control programs. These programs aim to reduce gradually the amount of harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere.{{cite web|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1027.html|title=Iran Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q2|website=payvand.com|access-date=2009-07-04|archive-date=2011-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129222751/http://www.payvand.com/news/09/apr/1027.html|url-status=dead}}

Climate change

Iran is party to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change but not its Doha Amendment.{{Cite web|title=United Nations Treaty Collection|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-c&chapter=27&clang=_en|access-date=2020-11-10|publisher=United Nations}} It has signed but not ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change.{{Cite web|title=United Nations Treaty Collection|url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en|access-date=2020-11-10|publisher=United Nations}}

Ecosystems

Much of Iran's territory suffers from overgrazing, desertification and or deforestation.

Wetlands and bodies of fresh water increasingly are being destroyed as industry and agriculture expand, and oil and chemical spills have harmed aquatic life in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.{{cite web|title=Iran – Country Brief|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/IRANEXTN/0,,menuPK:312966~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:312943,00.html|website=web.worldbank.org}} Iran contends that the international rush to develop oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea presents that region with a new set of environmental threats.{{cite web|title=Iran environment in grave danger|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/10/apr/1289.html|website=payvand.com|access-date=2010-05-05|archive-date=2020-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115013610/http://www.payvand.com/news/10/apr/1289.html|url-status=dead}} Although a Department of Environment has existed since 1971, Iran has not yet developed a policy of sustainable development because short-term economic goals have taken precedence.{{cite web|title=Green Party of Iran – News|url=http://www.iran-e-sabz.org/news/iranenv.html|website=iran-e-sabz.org}}

Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation.{{cite web|title=Archived copy|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iran/|access-date=2012-12-04}}

Deforestation

Iran had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.67/10, ranking it 34th globally out of 172 countries.{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|year=2020|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|page=5978|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|issn=2041-1723|pmc=7723057|pmid=33293507|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.}}

Natural disasters

Iran experiences periodic droughts, floods, dust storms, sandstorms and earthquakes along western border and in the northeast.

Soil erosion

Iran ranked worst in the world for soil erosion in 2011,{{cite web|title=Iran ranked worst in the world for soil erosion: expert|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/apr/1160.html|website=payvand.com|access-date=2012-04-25|archive-date=2020-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113020933/http://www.payvand.com/news/12/apr/1160.html|url-status=dead}} with reports from 2017 indicating that the erosion rate in the country is 2.5 times the world average.{{Cite web|date=2017-11-11|title=Soil erosion in Iran 2.5 times the world average|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/418381/Soil-erosion-in-Iran-2-5-times-the-world-average|access-date=2024-04-28|website=Tehran Times}}

Waste

An estimated 50,000 tons of trash is produced in the country every day of which something between 70 and 80 percent is disposed of hygienically but the rest is not.{{cite web|title=Every Iranian produces 700 grams of garbage per day|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/apr/1238.html|website=payvand.com|access-date=2012-04-24|archive-date=2020-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113015547/http://www.payvand.com/news/12/apr/1238.html|url-status=dead}} Iran produces over 8 million tons of hazardous waste annually (2016).{{cite web|date=23 October 2016|title=Hazardous Waste Production Alarming|url=https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/52093/hazardous-waste-production-alarming}}

Water

Industrial and urban wastewater runoff has contaminated rivers, coastal and underground waters.[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2005/05/09/000090341_20050509132811/Rendered/PDF/31984.pdf World Bank: Northern Cities Water Supply and Sanitation Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305174628/http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2005/05/09/000090341_20050509132811/Rendered/PDF/31984.pdf |date=2009-03-05 }}, p. 29-30

= Water scarcity =

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070619050935/http://www.irandoe.org/ Department of Environment – Islamic Republic of Iran]
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000332/http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resources/Environment.htm |date=September 28, 2007 |title=Environment in Iran – Brief Sector Study }} (2003)
[https://archive.today/20120803091645/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iran/Profile.html US Dept. of Energy] – Environment Overview for Iran
[http://www.parstimes.com/environment/ Iran: Environment and Nature]

Category:Climate change in Iran