Given the large volume of water consumed for the production of plastic, reducing the use of the material can help alleviate the country's gravest ecological crisis, namely water shortage, an official with the Department of Environment said.
A subcategory of petrochemical industries, plastic production is a highly water-intensive process which involves a huge cycle of consumption from raw material extraction to the final product for the market.
Ali Moridi, director for water and soil at DOE, said that cutting down on the use of plastic is more essential today in Iran in view of the current condition of water resources and the prolonged drought affecting the country, ILNA reported.
The official pointed out that the huge hidden water in plastic products is an added issue to "the harms caused by the mismanagement of plastic waste".
According to Moridi, DOE has prepared a set of regulations for reducing plastic consumption which is now awaiting approval by the Cabinet.
"The proposal involves following a global approach of levying charges on plastic bags, organizing educational and awareness-raising programs, promoting the culture of using recyclable or reusable cloth bags and reviving the traditional national custom of using straw bags," he explained.
The DOE is currently negotiating with the Industries Ministry to secure the approval of the scheme but the process has been hindered by manufacturers' resistance.
The plan faces objection because the producers' income as well as the employment of a large group of people will be affected upon the implementation of the scheme.
Moridi reminded, however, that "green economic growth and improving public health are among the basic principles of sustainable development and neglecting the environment will not produce positive results".
"We seek to implement the plan with the consent of manufacturers so as to guarantee its durability and maximum success," he said.
In addition, he lamented the lack of precise statistics on the production, consumption and recycling of the chemical and called on environmental activists and NGOs to take more serious action about the issue.
The Earth Day on April 22 was themed "End Plastic Pollution" this year and was celebrated on the adapted theme of "No to Plastic Bags" in Iran.
Dim Water Prospects
The noticeable drop in precipitation over the current water year (began Sept. 23) has prompted authorities to give warnings about a hot and dry summer and call for a change in consumption patterns.
Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian has recently said given the current trend of growing population, declining rainfall and rising temperatures, supplying drinking water will soon become an uphill struggle without the management of usage.
He has officially announced that the country is in "an emergency situation" regarding water supply this year.
Iman Babaeian, head of Iran's Climatological Institute, has also predicted that drought in Iran will not end sooner than a century.
"In the most optimistic prediction, the country will grapple with the phenomenon for at least several decades," he was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Prospects are bleak for the return of normal precipitation and the end of drought before 2100, according to him.
"Only if all countries remain committed to the Paris Agreement and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide by 4%-12%, can we expect the recovery of Iran's climate," he said, describing it as unlikely.
Little Consolation
Neither will the recent rainfalls across much of the country ease the crisis since snow reserves on mountains have thawed out earlier due to rising temperatures.
"Almost all the masses of snow over Alborz and Zagros mountain peaks have melted away," said Sadeq Ziaeian, head of the National Center for Drought, ISNA reported.
Temperatures rose by 1.8° Celsius over the seven months since Sept. 23, according to the expert.
Most areas of the country have experienced low rainfall with a drop of about 50% compared to the long-term average.
Ziaeian said the few provinces that received over normal precipitation will also have a difficult summer due to the early melting of mountain snow.
The 2007-2008 water year holds the record of low precipitation receiving only 138 millimeters.
Concerns had arisen that this year would break the record but the recent rains have raised hopes that this would not happen.
