A top Iranian official told reporters that Iran will only ratify the historic Paris climate deal if sanctions against it are eased.
Sanctions, according to Ali Salajegheh, are preventing Iran from developing renewable energy.
Despite the fact that Iran is the world’s seventh greatest CO2 emitter, it is one of the few nations that has not ratified the Paris Agreement.
Emissions have risen in recent years due to a drop in foreign investments in renewable energy.
Protests about water shortages have sometimes been ruthlessly crushed by the authorities.
While Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, has decided not to attend the UN climate change meeting in Glasgow, the Iranian delegation is here to demand an end to the economic boycott.
“Climate change has had an influence on Iran, just like it has on the rest of the globe,” Mr Salajegheh added.
“Our annual rainfall has decreased by 40%, and the inflow of water into our rivers has decreased by 40%, affecting our agricultural as well as our industrial and drinking water.”
Iran, on the other hand, has been chastised for contaminating its own water supply by digging over a million wells and constructing over 700 dams.
Mr Salajegheh said the Paris climate deal has to be a “two-way street” in order to work.
“When you have repressive sanctions in place, you can’t import anything, even medication, which is a human right,” he added.
“If the sanctions are lifted, we will have made a commitment to the international community, and it will be at that time that they will be able to transfer modern technology and finance to us, particularly in the area of renewable energy, so that we can modernize our aging infrastructure,” he told BBC News.
But, in terms of climate change, can Iran be trusted?
The nation has previously stated that even if sanctions were not lifted, CO2 emissions would be decreased.
The reality is that carbon pollution has increased, and the Climate Action Tracker has assessed the country as “critically insufficient” on climate change.
Since 2015, the nation has not presented a carbon reduction strategy. Experts estimate that by 2030, their emissions will have increased by 50%.
“What occurred was that we stated that if sanctions were lifted, we would cut by 12%. The sanctions have not been lifted “Mr Salajegheh stated.
How can Iran, which is heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, adapt in a world where demand for fossil fuels is expected to decline?
“Oil and gas will eventually run out, but if we utilize them in a way that keeps emissions to a minimum, we can use them alongside renewables,” Mr Salajegheh added.
While the rest of the world is debating how to reduce carbon emissions and raise funds for impoverished countries, there is little space for dispute with Iran.
Representatives from the nation have come to make a point regarding sanctions.
They now claim that they are unable to participate in the global battle against climate change. They, on the other hand, want things to change.
“We’ve come to declare that Iran is a world-engaged nation. We are all members of this global village and may assist one another “their delegation’s leader stated.
“When you have economic terrorism blocking us, we are now saying remove it so we can engage with the rest of the world and be confident that we will be here.”
