Public engagement key to tackling environmental challenges: DoE chief
Iran’s Department of Environment (DoE) chief Shina Ansari said on Monday that education, public awareness and social participation are critical to addressing the country's mounting environmental challenges, warning that government agencies alone cannot resolve years of accumulated environmental problems.
Speaking at the 9th session of the "National Uprising for Iran" campaign in Tehran, Ansari said Iran faces a range of environmental pressures, including water scarcity, groundwater depletion, land subsidence, air pollution, habitat destruction, forest fires and dust storms.
"Resolving the country's accumulated environmental challenges is not possible without the cooperation of the public, government agencies and cultural institutions," Ansari said, according to a statement released by the DoE.
The official said many of the challenges stem from years of insufficient attention to environmental considerations and stressed that environmental protection is a collective responsibility under Article 50 of Iran's Constitution.
"All institutions, organizations and members of society must play a role in this process," Ansari said, adding that the Department of Environment is not capable of addressing all environmental issues on its own.
Ansari highlighted the link between environmental protection and broader social and cultural issues, saying that achieving environmental goals requires public engagement and social consensus-building. Education and cultural initiatives are among the most effective tools for promoting environmental stewardship, she added.
The DoE chief also pointed to the government's focus on environmental education, arguing that awareness efforts should begin in schools. Embedding environmental values among students can help change behavior, improve lifestyles and strengthen social responsibility toward nature, she said.
Ansari cited the implementation of the national "Mohit-Yar" (Environment Companion) program, launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Education to expand environmental education in schools. The initiative has received support from provinces across the country, particularly in less-developed regions, she said.
She also announced the development of a national framework aimed at promoting environmental culture, prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and other government bodies.
According to Ansari, expanding environmental awareness requires greater coordination among cultural, educational and social institutions, as well as the use of cultural and artistic resources, modern technologies and religious teachings to encourage environmentally responsible behavior.
Protecting Iran's natural resources and preserving the country's environmental heritage for future generations is a shared responsibility, Ansari said, calling on all sectors of society to contribute to reducing environmental problems and advancing sustainable development.