TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) has underscored the need to expand cooperation with the United Nations.

Fortunately, close cooperation in various fields indicates the determination of Iran and the United Nations to enhance and strengthen their relations to promote stability and security in the region and the world, Mehr news agency quoted Jila Mehdi-Aqaei, a senior advisor to the head of the DOE, as saying.

The official made the remarks on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the UN, the UN Day.

Unfortunately, unfair sanctions have imposed significant challenges on all sectors, particularly the environment, limiting access to modern technologies and financial support from international communities, she said.

However, the friendly and long-standing relations between Iran and the UN should not be affected by the attitude of arrogant powers, she added.

“We are looking forward to expanding environmental ties and developing multilateral collaborations with the United Nations in different sectors,” the official noted.

She went on to say that joint projects have been implemented to preserve Iran’s wetlands and save Persian cheetah and biological diversity. The two sides have also adopted a resolution on dealing with sand and dust storms in the 6th United Nations Environment Assembly.

Hence “we seek to foster cooperation toward building capacity and transferring modern technologies for waste management, protection of wetlands, dealing with sand and dust storms, and managing pollution and climate change impacts,” the official stressed.

Main environmental policies 

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has offered a program with a focus on the preservation of the environment and the stability of the country.

The program is structured around six axes: moving towards a green economy; managing and improving various quantitative and qualitative dimensions of environmental imbalances (such as economy, energy, and water); effectively protecting biological resources (including natural resources and biodiversity); achieving good environmental governance; addressing public demands in the field of environment, and enhancing international bilateral or multilateral cooperation in the field of environment.

To compile the program, general environmental policies, Article 50 of the Constitution, and other national policy documents have been taken into account.

Moreover, the president-elect has highlighted the necessity of observing environmental considerations in development plans.

Pezeshkian believes that no development plan should be initiated without taking environmental considerations into account; in other words, the environment should be the central pillar of all development matters.

Referring to the increasing occurrence of sand and dust storms (SDSs) in the region and the environmental statement on bolstering environmental diplomacy, the administration of Pezeshkian will definitely endorse regional and global interactions to tackle not only SDSs issue but also water diplomacy and transboundary waters as other critical issues.

Exchanging regional and global experiences in the field of environment, laying the ground for facilitating interactions and benefiting from global experiences and modern knowledge, and participating at various levels of environment-related negotiations in order to attract resources, enhance capabilities and secure national interests are parts of objectives in this context.

Drafting a binding legal document within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect biodiversity, and manage valuable ecosystems such as national parks and national natural monuments has been highlighted.

Also, preventing the extinction of endangered species including cheetahs, and bustards will be a top priority.

UN Day

During a ceremony held in  Tehran on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the United Nations, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi said that Iran, as one of the founders of the UN, stands committed to the promotion of multilateralism and efforts aimed at fostering the culture of global peace, justice, cooperation and coexistence based on international law and principles of the UN Charter, Press TV reported.

“Resolution of existing regional and international crises and challenges is not possible without the collective efforts of all countries and nations,” the Iranian diplomat said.

United Nations Day recognizes the founding of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. The celebration is observed annually on October 24th. 

The mission of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security.

The UN also sets terms for protecting human rights around the world. In 1948, they created international law with a Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The member nations deliver humanitarian aid to populations in crisis. The first aid delivered was an immediate response to the devastation following World War II.

Another aim of the international organization is to promote sustainable development.

MT/MG