Iran Ranks Last in Climate Change Policy Making in the World

Iran's last rank in climate change policy making and performance, internal migrations caused by this event, and a 76% reduction in renewable water resources over the past fifty years were among the topics discussed at the 'Specialized Meeting on Water, Development, and Climate Migration.' According to Iranian media, this meeting was held on June 19 at the 'Iran Migration Observatory' in Tehran. Bahram Salavati, one of the speakers at the meeting, emphasized that the challenges of Hirmand, drought, and dust storms in Sistan and Baluchestan province led to the departure of 10,000 families from Zabol last year. Salavati referred to Iran as a 'disaster-prone' country, adding that out of 41 types of natural disasters recognized worldwide, Iran faces 32 types. Previously, Ahmad Vazifeh, head of Iran's National Drought Center, had mentioned that the reduction of accessible water resources in Iran has led to environmental 'destruction' and the 'beginning of climate migration.' Mehdi Zargami, another speaker at the 'Specialized Meeting on Water, Development, and Climate Migration,' reported a 76% reduction in Iran's renewable water resources over the past fifty years. According to this faculty member of Tabriz University, renewable water resources have currently decreased to 1,300 cubic meters, and if it reaches 1,000 cubic meters, Iran will face water poverty. According to the director of the Iran Migration Observatory, climate change has caused internal migration of one million people in the country annually between 1986 and 2016, while Iran ranks last among 63 countries in terms of policy making and performance in the field of climate change. Recently, the deputy of Iran's Water and Wastewater Company reported a water crisis in 27,000 villages in Iran with a population exceeding 10 million. Eisa Mansouri, a development studies expert and speaker at the 'Specialized Meeting on Water, Development, and Climate Migration,' also criticized the lack of water consumption policy and management in the country. He pointed out a 34% increase in water consumption in the country, citing the cultivation of water-intensive crops in water-scarce areas as an example of poor policy making. Officials of the Islamic Republic cite factors such as lack of rainfall and drought as the main reasons for the water crisis in the country. Meanwhile, some experts attribute the water problems in Iran to mismanagement, lack of coordination among responsible institutions, and neglect of environmental issues.