The International Dust Control Summit issued a statement
According to Moj news agency, the international conference on dealing with sand storms and dust It was held on the 18th and 19th of September hosted by Tehran and attended by 55 countries and international agencies.
The text of the final statement of this conference is as follows:
“Ministers and high-ranking representatives of countries affected by sand and dust storms, as well as supporting countries, met on September 9-10, 2023 in Tehran – Islamic Republic of Iran, in order to strengthen global and regional cooperation to deal with sand and dust storms as an issue of international concern. .
We appreciate the support and participation of various United Nations organizations in the conference and recalling resolutions 70.195, 71.219, 72.225, 73.237, 74.226, 75.222, 76.211, 77.171 and 77.294 and UNGA II resolution 2.10 and 2.10 and WMO Congress decision Cg-XV.3.3.3.6, and UNESCAP resolution 72.7, where dust storms as a challenge to sustainable development of affected countries Also, taking into account the outputs and results of dust meetings and conferences in the last two decades, including the international conference on dealing with dust storms in July 2017 and the meeting of regional ministers on environmental cooperation for a better future in July 2022, effective measures in the field of this challenge for We will follow up the implementation of operations regarding dealing with dust storms.
While welcoming and appreciating the various initiatives underway by countries, institutions, regional and international organizations, including UNDESA, UNCCD, UNEP, UNESCAP, FAO, WMO WHO, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, IOM, and UNDRR to deal with dust storms , we pay special attention to the emphasis on climate change as the most important factor causing climate risks, especially the frequency and intensity of dust storms.
It is necessary to welcome the activities of the United Nations coalition in dealing with dust storms in order to promote and coordinate the joint response of the United Nations to the malignant problems of dust, ensuring integrated and coherent measures, including support and financial plans.
We emphasize that dust storms are transboundary in nature and their negative effects are visible in many distant countries and regions and are increasing intermittently in most parts of the world.
In addition to negative effects on human health, agricultural lands, livelihoods, aquatic and dry environments, reduction of biodiversity, infrastructure issues and economic and social systems, these storms also cause serious damage.
Considering this fact, more understanding of the challenges of dust storms requires more cooperation and focus at the sub-regional, regional and global levels. Also, the importance of the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting international cooperation between countries and related stakeholders to deal with dust storms should be noted. .
We acknowledge that adequate and unhindered access of developing countries to financial resources, technical know-how and technology is an essential requirement for building the necessary capacities at the national and regional levels to adapt and reduce the negative effects of dust storms.
We also deeply regret that unilateral measures and coercive enforcement against countries can significantly reduce their capacities to deal with challenges such as dust storms and affect the effective implementation of measures and plans.
As a result, we have reached agreement on the following:
1. Increasing cooperation in adaptation, management and dealing with dust storms at cross-border, regional, sub-regional and international levels.
2. Exchange and sharing of information and points of view, knowledge, successful experiences, lessons learned, gathering information and transferring the best and most effective technology in dealing with dust storms.
3. Improving research and scientific activities, exchanging data and information, sharing experiences among the academic community that deal with the issue of dust, as well as evaluating the effects and forecasting of dust storms in order to prevent and reduce the effects of this phenomenon through capacity development and effective coping.
4. Preventive measures and their implementation and encouraging countries to sub-regional, regional and international cooperation and the development of plantations in damaged lands and forest restoration programs at all levels.
5. Emphasizing the fact that dealing with dust storms, which should be an integral part of climate change measures, adaptation strategies and financial and technological assistance in the field of dealing with dust storms should also be considered.
6. Strengthening national legal frameworks and organizational frameworks in order to share information and data on dust storms and increase awareness among public opinion, decision makers and spread coordinated actions and integrated cooperation.
7. Raising public awareness on the negative effects of dust storms on human health, agricultural activities, food security, infrastructure, forests, education, transportation, energy, socio-economic sectors, environment and participation among stakeholders.
8. Developing strategies regarding the risks and effects of dust storms in order to increase flexibility through sustainable management of natural resources in agricultural lands, pastures, barren lands and wetlands, international and transboundary lakes, biosphere reserves, urban and rural environments.
9. Continuing the negotiations regarding the challenges of dust storms with the countries affected and interested in facilitating, participating, supporting the cooperation of international organizations and emphasizing the organization of similar events.
10. Compilation, review and implementation of sub-regional, regional and global action plans to deal with dust storms with the presence and assistance of multilateral financial organizations and the United Nations, in order to further help the affected countries in various fields of work. Including the financing of sub-regional and regional projects and action plans.
11. Welcoming the Regional Action Plans on Dust Storms in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP/78/12/Add.1) as a framework and resource for countries in other regions of the world, including the African and ECO regions. The Regional Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (ECORFDRR) and its roadmap was approved in the 8th ECO Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2021.
12. Supporting the creation of a regional financial fund for the West Asian region to deal with dust storms in line with the statement of the ministers at the 2022 Tehran conference, with the voluntary participation of members, governmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector, development institutions, regional development banks in order to implement sub-regional action plans And it will be regional.
13. Emphasizing the importance of mobilizing financial and technical support, such as financial and technical assistance from relevant United Nations agencies, as well as multilateral financial support under environmental agreements such as GEF, GCF, and LDC, the Special Climate Change Fund, the UNCCD Land Degradation Fund, and multilateral development banks to help to developing countries in order to reduce the effects of dust storms.
14. Assist in the establishment of a regional center, working groups, committees with a network of countries affected by dust storms through capacity building, technical assistance and preparation and implementation of sub-regional and regional action plans.
15. Greater support to the UN coalition to ensure sufficient allocated financial resources to effectively follow up on decisions on dust storms and support affected countries.
16. Inviting the Secretary-General of the United Nations in line with Resolution A/RES/77/171 GA to further encourage the coalition with the aim of implementing the activities of the five working groups of the coalition (including knowledge sharing, capacity building, training, raising awareness and supporting the development of national, regional and sub-regional) which will ultimately lead to reducing the effects and encouraging more efforts in attracting resources and increasing voluntary aid, strengthening the main role of the coalition in supporting the affected countries, especially the implementation of regional and sub-regional action plans.
17. Welcoming the proposal to establish a regional center, committee and technical working groups in order to implement the sub-regional action plan in the respective countries.
18. Welcoming the proposal to create a convention to adapt, manage and deal with dust storms with the cooperation of the affected countries and other countries.
19. Invitation to the Islamic Republic of Iran to send a statement to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) for review and necessary measures.
20. We are extremely grateful to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for hosting this international conference, as well as for the excellent arrangements and warm welcome to the participants in this regard.