TEHRAN – Referring to the fact that the sources of sand and sandstorms affecting Iran are located abroad, officials from the Ministry of the Environment (DOE) highlight the role of environmental diplomacy in managing climate crisis, particularly sand and dust storms.
Air pollution, sand and sandstorms are global issues that need to be addressed with international cooperation as their solutions are cross-borders, the IRIB quotes Arman Khorsand as saying.
Emphasizing the need for domestic and international cooperation, authorities said Persian Gulf countries are working together to mitigate and address water pollution, climate change, sand and sandstorms. More collaborative efforts are also being formed.
“The negative effects of climate change are increasing faster than the effectiveness of measures taken to resolve the issue, but we should not refrain from playing a more effective and responsible role,” Khorsand said.
Due to drought and reduced water resources, he said the aridity of the Aral Sea, the Karakham Desert in Central Asia, and the deserts of China and Mongolia have been transformed into hotspot sources of sand and sandstorms that spread across countries such as Korea and Japan.
Ad hoc working groups to deal with sand and sandstorms
President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued an order calling for the establishment of a specialized working group to address SDSS.
At a meeting held on Sunday, the Ministry of the Environment (DOE) presented a report on the risks of SDSS as a comprehensive and growing threat, listing national plans and strategies to mitigate the impact of SDSS, the IRNA reported.
Emphasizing the importance of preserving the environment as an important issue in the country, the President ordered the establishment of a working group consisting of experts, academics, ministries and executive representatives, prepared and implemented operational plans to combat dust phenomena, and successfully conducted international experience.
Duststorm is a major environmental challenge that has negative impacts on food security, human health, and sustainable development processes at the national and local level.
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