TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to resolve environmental challenges utilizing modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). 

The MOU was signed by the vice-president for science and technology, Hossein Afshin, and the DOE chief, Shina Ansari, on Monday, IRNA reported.

It highlights expanding cooperation and synergy between the two sides, as well as leveraging the capabilities of both parties in the technology and innovation ecosystem to address key environmental issues in the country.

The main objectives of the signed MOU include providing scientific, technological, and innovative strategies to enhance monitoring and remove environmental pollution, particularly air pollution, utilizing modern technologies and knowledge-based capacities in policymaking and planning, developing the market for domestic knowledge-based products and services, and enhancing societal resilience against environmental and social crises.

Standardization and risk assessment of environmental technologies using international experiences, the promotion of women’s participation in the development of green technologies, the establishment and expansion of specialized institutions and tools in the environmental innovation ecosystem are among other goals of this MOU.

Based on the MOU, the vice-presidency for science, technology is committed to identifying knowledge-based companies operating in fields like air, water, and soil pollution, waste and wastewater, sand and dust storms, developing technology supply and demand exchanges, supporting the use of new technologies including AI, biotechnology, the Internet of Things, and block-chain to manage environmental challenges, and establishing innovative infrastructures with a focus on women entrepreneurs and less privileged groups.

The DOE is committed to cooperating in the expansion of technology through national environmental fund, research and technology funds, facilitating environmental approvals for the development of the green and digital economy, identifying challenges and technological needs, supporting pollution reduction projects and environmental risk assessment, establishing a knowledge-based and circular economy desk in the department, promoting innovation culture in the field of environment, utilizing the capacity of environmental technology houses, and participating in relevant national and specialized working groups.

Main environmental challenges

Air pollution is one of the major environmental challenges in the country, particularly in metropolitan with numerous adverse impacts on people’s health as well as the economy of society.

Land subsidence and waste management are also among main critical issues the country is facing. Indiscriminate extraction of underground water reserves and failure to restore aquifers over the previous decades have led to land subsidence in the country.

Climate change, particularly a sharp decline in annual precipitation, along with other environmental changes such as the drying up of wetlands, land degradation, sand and dust storms, and desertification, has caused numerous environmental problems.

Apart from affecting the environment, climate change poses a crisis in the health sector. Being located in West Asia, the impacts of climate change and the rise in temperature in Iran are more than the global average, which indirectly leads to the intensification of pathogens.

Dust storms are other major environmental challenges that adversely impact food security, human health, and the sustainable development process at national and regional levels.

Being located in an arid and semi-arid area, Iran has been negatively impacted by climate change. The rise in temperatures, drop in precipitation, intensified droughts, and frequent SDSs have not only threatened the ecosystem and biodiversity but also jeopardized the country’s food security by exacerbating soil erosion, expanding desertification, and declining agricultural productivity.

MT/MG