Iran’s environment chief calls for better policies amid growing ecological crises
Iran’s environment chief, Shina Ansari, warned that the country is facing severe environmental challenges, largely due to past neglect in policymaking, particularly in water resources and energy management.
In a statement marking 200 days in office, Ansari stressed the urgency of integrating environmental concerns into national development strategies, ILNA reported.
“We have prioritized strengthening environmental discourse at the governance level,” she said, highlighting her agency’s efforts in presenting key reports on waste management, air pollution, land subsidence, and marine-focused development to the government.
The Department of Environment (DoE) has also been pushing for international support in wetland conservation and air pollution control, while a national task force on air quality has intensified focus on fuel standards, vehicle scrappage, and electrifying public transport.
Despite challenges, Ansari pointed to progress, including regulatory changes to accelerate renewable energy projects, enhanced environmental monitoring through inter-agency cooperation, and a 47% budget increase for the organization in the coming year.
She acknowledged the complexity of Iran’s ecological crisis, exacerbated by economic and political factors, but stressed the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration and public engagement to drive meaningful reforms.