TEHRAN –The head of the Department of Environment, Shina Ansari, and the members of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) have discussed ways to strengthen the country’s participation in the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30).

During the meeting, which was held on Monday, Ansari highlighted the private sector's potential for having an active presence in COP30. She also noted that the current administration has entrusted the climate change negotiation committee to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that the DOE is trying to change it and take responsibility for the committee.

The official proposed signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to enhance collaborative efforts, particularly joint research projects, between the two organizations.

For his part, Samad Hassanzadeh, the head of ICCIMA, stated that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a vital infrastructure measure, stressing that the private sector had a noticeable capacity for active participation in COP29.

Payam Baqeri, the vice-president of ICCIMA, said the administration needs to support the private sector to help them more effectively attend COP30.

Presenting the country’s investment capacities and opportunities at global levels, utilizing technology in content delivering, setting up Iran’s pavilion in COP30 for holding negotiations, modernizing the aging fleet and eliminating regulations that are no longer necessary to reduce pollution and optimize the country’s economy, establishing a joint permanent committee between DOE and ICCIMA, reaching agreements with international parties to create a voluntary carbon market to connect global markets, making efforts to overcome resistance to international environmental activities were among discussed issues.

COP30 will be held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025.

The COP30 Action Agenda is specifically the program to mobilize non-party stakeholders – such as civil society, businesses, investors, non-government organisations (NGOs), and all levels of government – in coordinated climate action. Its purpose is to accelerate and scale climate action by highlighting solutions that can be repeated and scaled up in different places in a structured manner, allowing transparency in assessing progress and ensuring accountability.

The agenda will be organised around six key areas, reflecting the breadth and urgency of action needed to meet collective commitments under the Paris Agreement and previous COPs: Transitioning Energy, Industry, and Transport; Stewarding Forests, Oceans, and Biodiversity; Transforming Agriculture and Food Systems; Building Resilience for Cities, Infrastructure, and Water; Fostering Human and Social Development; and Cross-cutting Enablers and Accelerators.

COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. A key focus of COP29 was on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.

Iran used the opportunity of COP29 to hold international negotiations to defend the rights and interests of the country and raise the issue of the unfair sanctions imposed on the country to pave the way to utilize international environmental funds.

MT/MG