- Environmental issues in Iran
Environmental issues in
Iran include,balls in urban areas,vehicle emissions,refinery operations, and industrial effluents which contribute to poorair quality . Most cars use leadedgas and lack emissions control equipment. [ [http://iran-daily.com/1386/2880/html/economy.htm Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 07/01/07 ] ] Tehran is rated as one of the world’s most polluted cities. However, buses and cars running on natural gas are planned to replace the existing publictransportation fleet in the future. Also, energy prices are kept artificially low inIran through heavy state subsidies, resulting in highly inefficient and polluting consumption patterns.A rising incidence of respiratory
illnesses prompted the city governments ofTehran and Arak, southwest of the capital, to institute airpollution control programs. These programs aim to reduce gradually the amount of harmfulchemicals released into the atmosphere.Much of
Iran ’s territory suffers fromovergrazing ,desertification and/ordeforestation . Industrial and urban wastewater runoff has contaminated rivers and coastal waters and threatened drinkingwater supplies. Wetlands and bodies of fresh water increasingly are being destroyed as industry and agriculture expand, and oil and chemical spills have harmed aquatic life in thePersian Gulf and theCaspian Sea . Iran contends that the international rush to develop oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea presents that region with a new set of environmental threats. Although aDepartment of Environment has existed since1971 , Iran has not yet developed a policy ofsustainable development because short term economic goals have taken precedence.The
World Bank estimates losses inflicted on Iran’s economy as a result of deaths caused by air pollution at $640 million, which is equal to 5.1 trillion rials or 0.57 percent ofGDP . Diseases resulting fromair pollution are inflicting losses estimated at $260 million per year or 2.1 trillion rials or 0.23 percent of the GDP on Iran’s economy. A report by theUnited Nations Environment Programme ranked Iran at 117th place among 133 countries in terms of environmental indexes. [ [http://iran-daily.com/1385/2798/html/ Iran Daily - Front Page - 03/06/07 ] ]Major Environmental Agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast.
ee also
*
Wildlife of Iran
*Pollution in Tehran
*Geography of Iran
*Water and sanitation - Iran
*Gasoline subsidies - Iran
*Economy of Iran References
External links
* [http://www.irandoe.org/ Department of Environment - Islamic Republic of Iran]
* [http://www.atiehbahar.com/Resources/Environment.htm Environment in Iran - Brief Sector Study] (2003)
* [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iran/Profile.html US Dept. of Energy] - Environment Overview for Iran
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