The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, at the COP31 climate conference held in Antalya, Turkey, called for compensation for environmental damage caused by military attacks from the United States and Israel on his country. He stressed the importance of the connection between climate commitments in peacetime and responsibilities in wartime, stating: "We expect the global community to establish a real and meaningful connection between these two."
Impact of War on the Environment
Pezeshkian stated in his speech that this environmental damage must be documented and assessed, and compensation mechanisms should be developed for it. He pointed out that current international climate agreements provide billions of dollars from wealthy countries to assist developing countries in facing climate change, but there are no provisions for the environmental impacts of military attacks.
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The war between Iran and the United States and Israel, which began in late February, has inflicted significant damage on energy facilities in Iran as well as other parts of the Middle East. This conflict includes repeated attacks on energy infrastructure in Iran and also attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf. Iran has also repeatedly targeted oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Environmental Consequences and Global Changes
These military attacks have not only damaged infrastructure but have also resulted in significant environmental harm, including massive oil spills that have harmed the environment. At the same time, it seems that this conflict has led to a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. A report from a consortium of international scientists indicates that global greenhouse gas emissions have slightly decreased this year, partly due to high fuel prices and increased use of renewable energy following this conflict.
Pezeshkian further emphasized that compensating for environmental damage caused by wars and conflicts should be placed on the global agenda, and the international community should pay serious attention to this issue. He urged other countries to cooperate in establishing appropriate mechanisms for compensating these damages and to pay more attention to environmental protection during wars.
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