Four environmental bills were reviewed and approved by the Iranian Parliament on Sunday, in what a Department of Environment official deemed a sign of commitment from MPs to tackle environmental issues.
Seyyed Mohammad Mojabi added that the move to approve the bills, which included joining an international convention, show Iran is dedicated to environmental diplomacy, Mehr News Agency reported.
Marine Pollution
The parliament approved a bill to join the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping. Commonly called the London Convention, it is an agreement to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the convention. It covers the deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft and platforms.
Protection of Caspian Sea
The Majlis also approved the Bill on Protection of the Caspian Sea Against Pollutions from Land Sources and Activities, included within the framework of the Caspian Sea environmental protection.
The Framework Convention on Protection of the Caspian Sea is the only binding convention for Caspian member states. Since the Caspian Sea is an enclosed inland body of water, it tends to retain pollutions for a long time. This is why joining the convention is of vital importance.
Minamata Convention
Joining the Minamata Convention on Mercury was the topic of another bill approved by the MPs. Becoming a signatory to the convention means measures will be taken to reduce mercury pollution in the environment.
The Minamata convention is an international treaty to protect human health and environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds.
Basel Convention
A bill aimed at implementing amendments to the Basel Convention was also approved by members of the parliament.
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal is an international treaty to reduce movements of hazardous waste between nations and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.
