TEHRAN – Shina Ansari, the head of the Department of Environment (DOE), in separate meetings with Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Asad Majeed Khan, the secretary general of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), have explored ways to boost international and regional cooperation.

The meetings were held on Thursday on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which is taking place from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

During a meeting held with the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Ansari pinpointed the effects of imposed cruel sanctions on the country as well as the threats of Western countries against Iran, IRNA reported.

“Environmental challenges need to be addressed irrespective of political issues since conducting global joint efforts is impossible without the cooperation of all nations,” Ansari stressed.

Stiell, for his part, said ‘We will follow up on Iran’s concern for international cooperation in all joint meetings. The obstacles must be removed from the mechanisms channeling funds towards greenhouse gas emission reduction policies so that Iran also gain access to the technologies and financial mechanisms needed to deal with climate change.’

The head of the DOE also held a meeting with the ECO secretary general.  

The officials highlighted regional cooperation and discussed the significance of the last two COPs held in the region.

Referring to the ECO secretariat operating in Tehran, Majeed Khan said the ministerial meeting of the ECO member states should be held soon to discuss the expansion of the green economy and address common environmental problems of the regional countries.

COP29 an opportunity to condemn sanctions 

A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.

The main goals of the convention include stabilizing the greenhouse gas concentration in the earth’s atmosphere, submitting periodic reports on the national climate change situation, and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as implementing programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and building resilient communities. 

The fact Is that some countries have played the greatest role in the destruction of the environment, and they have the most facilities to prevent the resulting crisis. 

However, there are countries that have done the least to contribute to environmental destruction. By imposing unfair sanctions, the first group has deprived the second of their rights to access needed resources to tackle these problems.

Iran is one of the countries that has been greatly affected by climate change. However, coercive measures have deprived the country of its rights in many sectors including the environment. 

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change requires substantial funding to update technologies and make sure industries are efficient enough to emit less pollution into the atmosphere.

Iran’s participation in COP29 is of great importance. Attending the conference will serve as an opportunity to hold international negotiations to defend the rights and interests of the country and call for ending cruel sanctions.

It should be noted that environmental issues are cross-border; when dust rises from a country like Iraq, Iran, and other neighboring countries are also affected. In such a situation, sanctions and restrictions are meaningless.

MT/MG