Catalina Shirley 14

April 4, 2018
Humanities 10
Policy Paper #2 - Climate Change in I. R. Iran

Policy Paper : Climate Change in I. R. Iran

In order to improve the current issue of climate change, Iran proposes that all countries

should stay at 12 CO2 e per capita, with money back for remaining under this limit, and heavy

taxing for exceeding it.

Recently, the issue of climate change has spun drastically out-of-control, and is

dramatically affecting humanity’s known world. Shifting weather patterns are leading to more

erratic, intense, and powerful storms. Temperatures are increasing at an accelerated rate,

leading to the melting of magnificent glaciers, and thus the rising of sea levels and flooding.

These floods threaten homes and agriculture in coastal nations. A proven cause of this

worldwide warming trend is a surplus of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere;

gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Carbon dioxide is the product of deforestation and

burning fossil fuels; while methane (a gas that is 23-times more harmful), is mainly produced by

the raising of cattle and other livestock. (Before the Flood) According to a UN Report on Climate

Change: Fifth Assessment, “From 1880-2012, the average global temperature increased by

0.85℃. [1.2℃ above pre-industrial levels] [...] From 1901-2010, the global average sea level

rose by 19 cm. [...]” in addition, temperatures are predicted to increase 1.5-2.5℃ above

pre-industrial levels, and sea levels an additional 40-63 cm by 2100. Historically, 79% of

emissions were caused by developed countries, with the largest contributors being the
European Union (40%) and the United States (22%). Together, the Middle East & North Africa

contributed only 3%. However, now 63% of today’s emissions are produced by developing

countries, with the largest contributor being China (23%), and the Middle East & North Africa

coming in at 8%. (Climate Change and Development in Three Charts) While not all countries are

affected equally by climate change, it has transcended state lines to become a global issue.

Climate change is harming both people and animals alike. According to The Guardian, climate

change could drive 122 million more people into extreme poverty by 2030. By 2100, one in six

species could go extinct if the United Nations doesn’t act now. (Before the Flood) To ensure

that all citizens have access to drinking water and basic human rights, the U.N. has been given

no choice but to intervene.

In recent decades, Iran has always supported international efforts to mitigate

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. (Iran’s Intended

NDC) However, Iran is not a crucial emitter; and in 2014 only used 10 CO2 e per capita, which

ranked their country 44th on the list. (Climate Watch Data) Iran also has a desire to move

towards a low-carbon economy, but are admitting to an inevitable upward trend of GHG

emissions. 80% of Iranian export revenues come from high-carbon intensive oil and oil

byproducts, on which the country’s economy is very dependent. (Washington Post: Iran)

Because of the country’s inclination to participate, despite it’s reliance on oil production, Iran

intends to mitigate its GHG emission in 2030 by 4% compared to the “Business as Usual”

scenario. They also have the potential to ameliorate additional GHG emissions up to 8% against

the BAU scenario (i.e. 12% in total). Iran does not yet have a concrete strategy for upholding
their Intended NDC, but it will include mitigation, adaptation, and a national plan of action to

combat dust and sandstorms, to be finalized in the near future. (Intended NDC) Iran is

concerned about the vulnerability of their unique country, and the impacts climate change will

have on the country, climate, and citizens. They are predicting that higher temperatures will

lead to heat exhaustion, the spread of disease, increased dust and sandstorms, loss of

water/wetlands, and vulnerability of biodiversity and natural resources. In addition, an increase

in air pollution will cause greater health risks. (Intended NDC) Iran cannot fully sacrifice their

economy for this cause, but they are aware of the issue, in full support of the U.N., and taking

steps to help cut back its own emissions.

Climate change has long since been an issue on the U.N.’s radar, but has now passed

into an unreasonable and dangerous level. If the world doesn’t halt this destruction now,

people could cause potentially irreversible damage to the diversity of both the beautiful

country of Iran, and the planet as a whole. The U.N. has become involved with climate change

in the past; with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto

Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. (UN Article on Climate Change) However, the environment

and people are still at risk, and more must be done. A possible solution to this problem would

be to standardize global emissions, by setting per capita country emissions to a certain level.

Any country passing this level will receive harsh disapproval from the U.N. and other nations. In

addition, countries surpassing the level of 12 CO2 e will pay a raised amount for extra-- double

the amount on every extra CO2 e per capita they exceed. To provide an incentive to reduce

emissions, countries who are under the limit will receive half of the amount they would’ve paid
per unused CO2 e back, to be distributed to the people. (For example, if Iran only uses an

average of 10 CO2 e per capita in a given year, they would be paid half of the price of the

remaining unused CO2 e allotment.) Iran believes that a total of 12 CO2 e per capita would be

an acceptable boundary to set worldwide. It is high enough that Iran-- both a developing and

oil-dependant country-- has been able to stay under it. However, it is still low enough it would

be both a challenge and a huge step in the right direction for a country like the United States,

whose carbon emissions are more than double that number. (Climate Watch Data) In addition,

Iran urges the United States to make the right decision and remain part of the Paris Climate

Accord. Each nation, the U.S. included, has an obligation to their people and to the rest of the

world. It is very important to the state of Iran that the world is unified in reducing emissions,

because just one country can cause global temperatures to rise significantly. If the U.S. backs

out of this agreement, they will be backing out of a common cause to combat climate change.

(UN Article on Climate Change) Iran believes that the majority of countries agree that the U.S.

backing out of the Paris Agreement would be highly inappropriate and unacceptable.
 Works Cited:

Before the Flood. ​Dir. Fisher Stevens. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio. National Geographic, 2016.

Streaming Video

“Climate Change.” ​United Nations​, United Nations, Accessed 6 April 2018,

www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/​.

“Climate Change : Fifth Assessment Report.” ​United Nations​, United Nations, Accessed 6 April

2018, ​www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/​.

“Climate Watch : Iran.” ​Climate Watch - Data for Climate Action​, Climate Watch, Accessed 6

April 2018, ​www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/IRN​.

“Iran.” ​The Washington Post​, WP Company, Accessed 6 April 2018,

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/iran.html?nav=el​.

“Islamic Republic of Iran : Intended Nationally Determined Contribution.” ​Department of

Environment : Islamic Republic of Iran, ​19 Nov. 2015,

 www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/Iran/1/INDC%20Iran%20

Final%20Text.pdf.

Provost, Claire. “Climate Change Could Drive 122m More People into Extreme Poverty by

2030.” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 17 Oct. 2016,

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/17/climate-change-could-drive-1

22m-more-people-into-extreme-poverty-by-2030-un-united-nations-report​.