TEHRAN - The International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDSs) was held in Tehran on September 9-10. The event was a further step towards the implementation of the environmental protection policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

It was also based on Paragraph 15 of the general environmental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran specified by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Based on this paragraph, the country is required to strengthen environmental diplomacy by endeavoring to create and strengthen regional institutions in order to stand against sand and dust storms as well as water pollution.

In addition, this diplomacy can be further developed through objective and effective bilateral, multilateral, regional, and international environmental cooperation.

It is one of the consequences of issues such as unsustainable industrial and agricultural development, overutilization of water resources, climate change, desertification, wars, and other human interventions. 

Since sand and dust storms are cross-border phenomena, all countries – including countries of origin and countries touched by such phenomena – are required to cooperate with each other in order to be able to tackle this issue.

This is a vitally important issue highlighted in the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms held in Tehran in which representatives of some 50 countries and 15 international organizations participated. 

The fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran hosted this prestigious international conference indicates that the international community has acknowledged Iran’s potential and capabilities for creating a multilateral consensus for tackling such an urgent issue.

According to studies, there are about 330 million hectares of sand and dust sources in West Asia and Central Asia. Some of these sand and dust storms are originated from low-intensity centers and some others originate from high-intensity ones. Meanwhile, some 270 million hectares of these areas are high-intensity centers of sand and dust storms. They produce some 147 million tons of dust annually.

These sands and dust storms contain particles of less than 10 microns which are endangering the health of the people of the region. In addition, large-scale environmental issues further intensify social gaps and can result in the emergence of internal and external environmental challenges.

Expected outcomes of environmental diplomacy – as envisaged in the general environmental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran – include, inter alia, taking effective advantage of international opportunities and incentives, facilitating the transfer and development of technology, and introducing related innovations.

As a matter of fact, the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms was a suitable platform for different countries to share their knowledge and experiences in combating sand and dust storms and managing this hazardous phenomenon. The abovementioned conference can also prepare the proper context for establishing a regional or an international fund for dealing with such an important issue.

The International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms was actually a follow-up of last year’s regional sand and dust storms conference. It has been hosted by Iran upon the request of the UN General Assembly and based on the almost unanimous votes of the members of that international body. 

It is, therefore, expected that its decisions are considered as supporting documents for future UN resolutions. Sand and dust storms affect the lives of some 330 million people all around the world. These storms are threatening the environmental health and security of people in large parts of the globe.  

Based on the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), the Tehran conference should end with a couple of outputs, including the enhancement of the developed and developing countries’ financial and technical support to – and investment in – early warning systems, support the farmers in pursuing sustainable agriculture through optimal use of water and soil resources, revival of ecosystems, and global alliance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Despite the fact that the issue of sand and dust storms is a cross-border phenomenon and although we should take advantage of diplomatic potentials and capabilities to manage and reduce the harms and hazards of such a phenomenon, we should be careful enough so that states are abiding by their commitments in this regard and concerned authorities of these states are not ignoring the responsibilities that they are required to shoulder. 

As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has repeatedly pointed out, we should be careful of domestic mismanagement of resources, because such a phenomenon can result in the creation of internal sources of sand and dust storms. In fact, the cross-border nature of sand and dust storms should not make us ignorant of the role that should be played by domestic organs.

Considering the fact that the seventh 5-Year-Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran has highlighted the importance of watershed and aquifer management and also considering its emphasis on improving the cultivation pattern and land-use management, the abovementioned policy can be implemented.

***** The author is the head of the agriculture, environment, and water committee of the Expediency Council