Countries are invited to participate in the Dust Summit
According to Moj news agency, Ali Selajgeh said in the meeting with the ambassadors of the countries based in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was held today at the Office of Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the international dust summit: climate change with all its dimensions and consequences. has faced a serious challenge to life on earth. One of the consequences of climate change, which has increased in intensity and repetition, is the phenomenon of dust, which causes severe damage to the world’s biological and economic resources.
He continued: According to studies, 150 countries in the world are affected by dust storms, and most of these countries are located in the continents of Africa and Asia, and two of the seven main sources of dust production in the world are after the Great African Sahara. which is the most important of them – it is located in the continent of Asia.
The head of the Environmental Protection Organization further added: The studies carried out in the form of the map of the origin of dust centers by the Islamic Republic of Iran show that the area of dusty areas in West Asia and Central Asia is more than 3.3 million square kilometers, especially in the last decade. The frequency and intensity of dust storms has increased.
He added: Considering the social, economic, health and environmental effects and consequences of this phenomenon, it is necessary to adopt international, regional and sub-regional solutions with the participation of all the effective and affected countries of this phenomenon. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen and Synergy of cooperation and participation of the countries of the region and the world and taking advantage of the support of international organizations in order to control and adapt to this challenge, more serious and committed steps should be taken.
According to Selajgeh, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country affected by the dust phenomenon, has taken several measures to deal with it. However, this challenge is much bigger than local or even regional management and control. Coping with sand and dust storms requires participation and cooperation at the regional and international level.
He further stated: One of the main policies of the popular and revolutionary government is the development of environmental diplomacy with all countries of the world to share knowledge and experiences to solve all environmental issues, especially dust. On this occasion, in the past two years, the Islamic Republic of Iran, while traveling to the countries of the region on July 12, 2022, took action to hold a regional summit in Tehran under the title “Environment for a better future” with the main approach of solving the problem of dust in the region of West Asia and Central Asia. has done.
The Vice President stated: The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the countries that has suffered the most damage from cross-border dust storms, is determined to hold an international summit to deal with sand and dust storms in addition to its authority in the region. With the cooperation of the United Nations, by implementing paragraph 8 of the General Assembly resolution, while consulting with the countries of the region, in order to achieve common solutions and synergize management and executive measures to control this phenomenon.
He added: We believe that with international, regional and sub-regional cooperation, we can reduce the effects and damage of this pervasive problem. The annual resolutions of the United Nations in the field of combating sand and dust storms, which have been approved by the General Assembly since 2015, clearly show the activities of the United Nations in the field of combating desertification and combating dust storms.
Selajgeh said: This year, in line with the implementation of paragraph 19 of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, he proposed July 12 of every year as the International Day against Sand and Dust Storms to the United Nations, which was approved by the General Assembly with a decisive vote. It arrived in May this year.
He added: By preparing a map of the dusty areas of West Asia and Central Asia and subsequently preparing a sub-regional action plan for the two regions of West and West Central Asia, the Islamic Republic of Iran showed that it had a serious will to control this phenomenon in the region and to do this important It definitely needs the cooperation of all the countries of the world and relevant institutions in the United Nations.
The head of the Environmental Protection Organization continued: With the aim of attracting international participation, cooperation and coordination, based on the resolution number A77571 of the United Nations General Assembly, in 2022, the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the support of the United Nations, will hold an international summit on dealing with dust storms. It will be held on September 9 and 10 in Tehran.
He added: A joint invitation signed by me and the two esteemed Deputy Secretary Generals of the United Nations has been sent to the environment ministers of about 55 countries that are directly involved in the dust phenomenon, as well as international organizations related to the dust phenomenon. The purpose of holding this meeting is to exchange opinions, consult and share ideas to synergize international and regional efforts, in addition to discussing ways to strengthen regional and international participation and cooperation to deal with the phenomenon of dust storms.
Selajghe added: We are very pleased and proud that a large number of United Nations agencies have expressed their commitment to support this conference. The international summit on dealing with sand and dust storms, which will be held next week (Saturday and Sunday) in Tehran, is a turning point in serious decisions to operate and implement sub-regional programs to control the dust phenomenon in West Asia and Central Asia. It will be prepared at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He added: I hope that with the approval of these two sub-regional action plans in the upcoming summit, the ground will be provided for the implementation of joint measures by carrying out projects to curb the phenomenon of dust in the region and the whole world. In this regard, we request the resident ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran to quickly inform and explain the importance of the meeting’s topic, to encourage and participate in their respective governments to participate as best as possible in the important meeting to deal with sand and dust storms. We expect that high-ranking delegations and heads of environment ministers from the affected countries will participate in this conference. Therefore, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Organization and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I again express my sincere invitation to actively participate in this meeting.
The head of the Environmental Protection Organization stated: On the third day (September 11) of the summit, with the presence of representatives of 10 countries, the Makran regional environmental conference will be held in Chabahar region for one day, and countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates , Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Bahrain have been invited, and in this context, a joint invitation has been sent with the honorable secretary of Makran Council to the honorable ministers of these 10 countries, and we hope that after the two-day international conference on dealing with dust in Tehran, these 10 countries that have announced their readiness to participate in the Makran environmental meeting.