Iran faces 62% drought, 50mm of rain decline in 50 years
Head of the Iranian Parliament Research Center Babak Negahdari highlighted the pressing issue of climate change in Iran.
Speaking at the 7th International Conference on Climate Change, the Parliament member emphasized the need for an environmentally friendly approach to managing climate change, asriran.com reported.
Persistent observation reveals a continuing trend, he said, the average temperature has increased by four degrees each decade over the past 50 years.
He added that during the crop year, Sept. 22, 2020, to Sept. 22, 2021, 61.7% of the country experienced drought, while only 19.3% encountered normal conditions.
Negahdari stated that climate change should be a nationwide project, influencing crucial areas such as food security, ecosystems, and energy safety.
He introduced two approaches to address the issue: adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Pointing to the tangible impacts of climate change in Iran, Negahdari underlined the drastic reduction in precipitation from 250mm in the 1970s to 200mm in the 2010s.
The official expressed concern over the health sector, citing increased mortality among the elderly due to rising temperatures.
He also highlighted the agricultural challenges, including reduced rice, potato, and sugarcane production, as well as the impact of dust storms originating from neighboring countries.
Discussing climate change management, Negahdari stressed the importance of environmental sustainability in developing countries.
Negahdari concluded by emphasizing the crucial role of environmental conservation in development, stating that development plans should be tailored to environmental conditions.
He highlighted the need to focus on improving productivity as a key aspect of climate change management, with a greenhouse gas reduction approach.
The 7th International Conference on Climate Change opened on January 29 and will end on
January 30.