TEHRAN- Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, head of the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), has said that Iran's guidance and leadership in dealing with the global phenomenon of sand and dust storms (SDSs) is promising.

“The issue of environment and sand and dust storms is not related to just a specific country; it requires multilateral and international cooperation. We are very pleased that Iran organized an international conference to combat sand and dust storms,” Alisjahbaba said, ILNA reported.

She emphasized that protecting the environment is not a political issue; it is related to the life of the earth, nature, and humans.

The UN official concluded that ESCAP is an international group that has adopted good measures to deal with this phenomenon.

UN supports Iran

The United Nations Office in Iran coordinated efforts with 12 UN entities worldwide to provide integrated support to the International Conference on Combatting Sand and Dust Storms, organized by the Iranian Government and held in Tehran on 9-10 September 2023, the UN website said in a press release on September 11.

The purpose of this inter-governmental forum was to mobilize stronger commitment for coordinated actions at the sub-regional, regional, and global levels, to reduce risks and strengthen resilience to the negative transboundary impact of sand and dust storms.

This conference was hosted by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/171 in December 2022, on curtailing the global issue of sand and dust storms.

Sand and dust storms affect many aspects of societies in various regions of the world, including health, livelihoods, transportation and aviation, and food security – among others. Over 330 million people are already affected globally.

More frequent and more severe sand and dust storms are caused in part by human-induced drivers, including climate change, unsustainable land management, and water use, and in turn sand and dust storms contribute to climate change and air pollution, the report added.

In a special video message for the conference participants, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need for elevated international cooperation to combat sand and dust storms, putting forward a call to action to protect people and the planet. 

“I urge you to use your time in Tehran to build partnerships, increase cooperation, and commit to practical action,” said Guterres.

The UN Secretary-General also called for increased investments in early-warning systems, the restoration of ecosystems and landscapes, improved water management, and enhanced efforts to combat global temperature rise by reducing emissions. The Secretary-General proposed a clear call to action for both developed and developing countries with respect to their efforts on curbing climate change.

Guterres also called for increased investments in early-warning systems, the restoration of ecosystems and landscapes, improved water management and enhanced efforts to combat global temperature rise through reducing emissions. The Secretary-General proposed a clear call to action for both developed and developing countries with respect to their efforts on curbing climate change.

Also, on September 12, Stefan Priesner, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Iran, said creating a fund is a necessity to address the issue of sand and dust storms.

“Phenomena like sand and dust storms require us to make efforts to identify our points of strength and reinforce our cooperation,” he pointed out.

Half of the natural phenomena are caused by human interventions, which is why all participants have asked for taking decisive measures concerning water and soil, adopting policies to prevent soil degradation, and creating a fund to solve the problems, he highlighted.

MT/MG