Iran Makes Proposals to Tackle Sand, Dust Storms
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The president of Iran put forward three proposals to combat and reduce sand and dust storms, urging that the “hegemonic developed” countries must remain committed to the environmental resolutions passed by the UN and the regional organizations.
Addressing the ‘International Conference on Combatting Sand and Dust Storms’, held in Tehran on Saturday, President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran has come up with three proposals to address the problems caused by the sand and dust storms.
The thee plans proposed by Iran were “using the capacity of the scientific and research centers”, “the establishment of a financial fund”, and “provision of cultural and media attachments”.
Emphasizing the necessity for consultation and collective action to tackle dust and sand storms, the president bemoaned the fact that the hegemonic developed states have shirked responsibility to carry out the resolutions that the United Nations as well as the regional and ultra-regional organizations have passed in recent years to settle the environmental problems.
The crux of the matter is that the environmental resolutions passed by the international organizations must be binding and come with a credible guarantee of implementation, otherwise certain governments will violate them by relying on their wealth and power, Raisi warned.
“The hegemonic countries have caused numerous problems for the human communities by disregarding the environmental issues and only caring about their own economic benefits and industrial and military development. They are persecuting the other human beings by threatening the seas, forests and lands,” he stated.
Sand and dust storms have become a serious global concern in recent decades due to their significant impacts on the environment, health, agriculture, livelihoods, and socio-economic well-being.
According to the UN, at least 25 percent of global dust emissions originate from human activities, and in some areas, desert dust has doubled in the 20th century. The impact of this phenomena is difficult to control, as human activity in one part of the world can cause sand and dust storms in another region.
The UN General Assembly has proclaimed July 12 as the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms considering their negative impacts at different scales.
