TEHRAN – The 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) has approved a resolution adopted at the international summit on dealing with sand and dust storms which was held in Tehran in September 2023.

The UNEA-6 was held from February 26 to March 1 at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment.

A total of 180 countries attended the UNEA-6 meeting with a focus on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, IRNA reported.

The Tehran conference was a turning point in making serious decisions for implementing sub-regional programs in West Asia and Central Asia.

Climate change with all its dimensions and consequences has caused serious challenges to life on the earth. One of the consequences of climate change, which has increased in intensity and occurrence, is the phenomenon of SDSs with severe harm to the world's biological and economic resources.

According to surveys, 150 countries are affected by SDSs, and most of these countries are located in Africa and Asia.

Two out of the seven main sources of dust production in the world are located in Asia, with the Great African Sahara being the first one.

The studies by the Islamic Republic of Iran show that the dust centers in West and Central Asia are more than 3.3 million square kilometers.

Considering the social, economic, health, and environmental effects and consequences of this phenomenon, it is necessary to adopt international, regional, and sub-regional solutions with the participation of all countries affected by this phenomenon and the international organizations’ support, to take more seriously actions to tackle this challenge.

The UNEA-6 Assembly had 19 resolutions and two decisions under discussion, which covered a wide range of issues, including circular economy; effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions towards climate justice; solar radiation modification; sound management of chemicals and waste, and sand and dust storms.

Regional, global centers ‘essential’

On February 29, Salajeqeh delivered a speech at the Assembly, calling it essential to set up regional and global centers to deal with sand and dust storms.

“My country, like many other countries, has been severely affected by climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, which mainly emerge from other countries and regions of the world. Meanwhile, drought as well as sand and dust storms are among the most important challenges that our region is facing,” IRNA quoted Salajeqeh as saying.

Holding the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, in line with the implementation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/171, in Tehran in September 2023 with the cooperation of the United Nations, is an example of the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to draw the attention of the international communities to the importance of these shared challenges and the necessity to find shared solutions to cope with these challenges, he added.

The conference, with the assistance of multilateral financial organizations and the United Nations, and the affected countries tried to compile, review, and implement sub-regional, regional, and global action plans to deal with dust storms and follow up on the creation of a regional fund for the West Asia region and the establishment of a regional center along with a network of countries affected by dust storms to investigate and follow up effectively.

In this regard, consulting with a group of interested countries and seeking the cooperation and support of UNEP and specialized funds, programs and agencies affiliated with the United Nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran submitted a draft resolution to the current session of the UNEA to take another step for collective action and develop appropriate regional and international mechanisms to deal with dust storms as one of the important hazards threatening our world and future.

According to Article 50 of the Constitution of the country, Iran is strongly bound to preserve the environment and, in this regard, the government is trying to integrate environmental considerations into all strategies programs, and development plans of the country.

Referring to the unilateral economic and illegitimate sanctions against Iran and other countries which have resulted in numerous effects in terms of environmental destruction and reduction of sustainable development, Salajeqeh said international organizations, particularly UNEP, are expected to play their role in providing technical, financial and consulting assistance favorably in line with its mission to improve environmental indicators to witness the reduction of environmental risks.

Neglecting climate change and the preservation of the environment have posed serious and emerging challenges for all countries of the world. These challenges disrupt the balance of nature, threaten the life of biological species, increase poverty, and threaten food security and human health.

Salajeqeh also highlighted the historical responsibility of developed countries, which have been industrialized at the price of climate crises, loss of biodiversity, and extensive pollution, to help developing countries.

“In this regard, I emphasize that developing countries need capacity building, real financial support, and proper, affordable, and unhindered access to technical knowledge to play a proper role in solving the world's environmental problems, including moving towards low-carbon economies, and technologies that are compatible with the environment,” he further noted.

Drafting new treaties, forming strict legal regimes, and creating various obstacles, restrictions, and challenges, especially in the field of international trade, under the pretext of implementing environmental obligations, does not help to solve their problems.

“What we need now more than ever is a correct understanding of the challenges, and mutual understanding of the opportunities, threats, and solutions ahead.”

Iran, as one of the founders of the United Nations, has always emphasized the importance of preserving the environment. The country is in agreement with other countries on many environmental issues, including climate change and the need to deal with it.

In the end, he pointed out that the future of the common environment will determine the inevitable common fate of everyone. It is hoped that regardless of political issues, by enhancing cooperation, developing each other's capacities, and taking advantage of common knowledge, technology, and financial resources, we will be able to present a healthy and clean future to the next generation.

MT/MG