Iran’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions has faced objections in recent months by those trying to prevent its ratification through media sensationalism.
The Paris accord was signed in December 2015 in the French capital by nearly 200 countries. It was approved in the Iranian Parliament in November 2016 and is now awaiting the ratification of Guardians Council.
While proponents of the deal refer to it as an opportunity to achieve national environmental goals, opponents maintain that it will hinder the implementation of the country’s large-scale development policies, IRNA reported.
What Critics Say
Critics claim that adherence to the agreement will impose an estimated $17 million in financial burden.
In response, Majid Shafi’pour, director of the Center for International Affairs and Conventions at the Department of Environment, points out that no article in the agreement compels countries to allocate funds for the purpose.
“It has only required developed countries to enable the transfer of modern technologies to less developed nations through multilateral development banks,” he said.
Other objectors state that the agreement will eventually force Iran to let go of its oil and gas resources to make way for reducing the emission of carbon dioxide.
An article of the deal highlights that parties must not design their economic and industrial policies based on resources but on their environmental impact.
Opposition to the plan peaked, especially after the US unilateral decision to pull out of the climate accord.
Many critics argue that if countries are to stop global warming, justice requires that industrial countries should reduce their greenhouse emissions first.
Mehdi Eskandari, an expert on international affairs, offers another analysis. He explains that once the agreement is implemented worldwide, demand for oil will decline.
“Oil prices will consequently drop and impact Iran’s economy heavily. Since Iran’s industry is largely dependent on oil, its economic growth will be disturbed,” he has written on Tabyincenter.ir.
Nuclear plants are not expected to meet the energy needs of the country when fossil fuel production declines.
Eskandari said Iran’s financial resources will dwindle and the country will face challenges in supplying energy.
What Defenders Say
Supporters of the global agreement, however, believe reducing greenhouse emissions is a national duty.
Iran is among the top 10 producers of greenhouses gases and the agreement is an opportunity for the country to direct its development plans toward low-carbon economy.
According to advocates, Iran had already volunteered to use renewable sources of energy and develop a green economy mentioned in the deal.
Environmental activists also see this article of the agreement as a potential means of helping preserve water, oil and gas resources for the coming generations.
Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian had earlier stressed that not a single paragraph of the agreement is against national benefits.
“The Paris accord does not impose any obligation on party states and each country has proposed measures voluntarily based on its own capacities,” he said, adding that those who say it will impede Iran’s development do not have a thorough knowledge of the deal.
Massoumeh Ebtekar, the DOE chief, had earlier said the implementation of the deal will help persuade Iran to rectify wrong consumption patterns and battle climate change.
“By implementing the articles of the deal, Iran could compensate ecological damage and preserve wetlands and forests,” she said.
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