Iran Proposes Regional Mechanism to Tackle Environmental Challenges

President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday suggested to senior officials from 11 West Asian countries that an international organization be formed to promote environmental stability in the face of recent natural disasters affecting the region.   
“Some environmental challenges, including sandstorms, cross borders and require international resolve,” Raisi was quoted as saying by his website in a meeting attended by officials from several western Asian nations.
During spring, West Asia faced an unprecedented number of dust storms that blanketed the entire region and disrupted daily lives for days on end.
Storms of dust and particles cut visibility, canceled flights and closed down places of work, schools and universities in the area as decades of land and water mismanagement finally caught up with the region. 
Raisi noted, “The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes regional cooperation to take on these challenges and improve the environment.”
He added that protection of the environment was an “inevitable priority” and while economic development was vital for every country, it must be based on principles of conservation. 
Tuesday’s regional ministerial meeting on “Environmental Cooperation for a Better Future” was held at Darabad Wildlife and Nature Museum in the capital Tehran.  
Since the frequent and severe episodes of sandstorms hit the Middle East, Iranian officials have been signing memorandums of agreement with regional nations to cooperate on combating climate change. 
Raisi put the Department of Environment and other related organizations in charge of spearheading a campaign against a host of environmental issues including dust storms and water scarcity. 

Threat to Lives

The president stated that without the creation of a peaceful and calm environment, industrial development could threaten and take the lives of many citizens. 
“Therefore, conserving the environment is a critical issue which has priority,” he added. 
Ali Salajegheh, head of the DoE, also gave a speech on the importance of preserving the environment on the same day and said that environmental challenges permeated today’s world.
“Although today’s meeting encompasses all environmental problems, it is specifically concerned about sandstorms.”
He expressed hope that Tuesday’s conference could serve as a prelude to regional cooperation on the issue. 
According to the official, sanctions against Iran and regional nations had stopped the United Nations from fulfilling its obligations in regards to climate. 
“Today’s conference showed that friendly, brotherly and Muslim countries can solve their problems and promote ties without the involvement of foreigners,” he added. 
On the sidelines of the meeting, Iran and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement to fight climate change and promote cooperation. 
Ever since spring, Iran and neighboring countries have been scrambling to stop the crisis from worsening as sandstorms impose a heavy toll on health care systems and endanger the lives of the locals. 
The particles carried by high-speed winds are extremely dangerous as they can travel into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Millions of people die from air pollution every year, according to the World Health Organization.