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The Nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19), Geneva, 22 May 2023

Statement

by

Mr. Amir AKHLAGHI

Representative of

The Islamic Republic of Iran

On

Climate change and its impacts on greenhouse emissions, global warming, natural disaster such as floods, massive droughts and sand and dust storms

Before

The Nineteenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19),

Geneva, 22 May 2023

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Excellences,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the World Meteorological Organization for its excellent coordination in convening this conference. I also extend my thanks to Switzerland for its hospitality in hosting this paramount event. I would like to express my delegation's full support in accomplishing the Nineteenth Congress of the World Meteorological Organization missions.

Mr. President,

Climate change is the biggest challenge our society is currently facing. The continuous increase in greenhouse gas emissions has led to global warming and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, which exacerbate natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and successive droughts. Additionally, sand and dust storms occur more frequently as a result.

In recent years, sand and dust storms have increasingly impacted human health, livelihoods, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, and overall sustainable development objectives in many countries. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), approximately 151 countries are directly affected by sand and dust storms, with 45 countries classified as source areas. Although most locations are in low-latitude drylands, dust sources can develop in almost any environment, often influenced by human activities.

Various UN entities, academia, and research institutions have intensified their efforts and formed initiatives to enhance international, regional, and inter-agency cooperation in areas such as source mitigation, preparedness, resilience, and early warning systems. Resolutions and decisions adopted by the UN system, including the World Meteorological Organization, UN Environment Program, World Health Organization (WHO), UN-Habitat, UN-ESCAP, and UNCCD, have contributed to an enhanced science-policy interface and international collaboration. Notably, the resolution of the Eighteenth Session of the World Meteorological Congress was a significant step in enhancing international cooperation in forecasting, early warning, assessment, monitoring, and supporting countries' resilience to the impacts of sand and dust storms.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been one of the countries heavily affected by sand and dust storms, suffering from adverse impacts such as air pollution, water scarcity, land degradation, drought, respiratory diseases, and forced migration. Despite significant attention and investment at the national level, the transboundary nature and impacts of sand and dust storms require, more than ever, action-oriented and continued international, regional, and sub-regional solutions and cooperation.

On a positive note, sand and dust storms have gained prominence on the UN agenda in recent years. Following the International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms in Tehran in July 2017, several UN entities, academia, and research institutions have intensified their efforts and formed initiatives to enhance international, regional, and inter-agency cooperation in areas such as source mitigation, preparedness, resilience, and early warning systems. While these efforts are multiplying, it is critical to ensure they result in improved international commitment, transboundary regional and sub-regional collaboration, facilitation of access to data and knowledge exchange, and enhancement of countries' human, instructional, policy, and regulatory capacities to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of sand and dust storms.

As science and research provide us with more information and knowledge on the evolution and impacts of this phenomenon, it is important to maintain a continued dialogue among countries, UN institutions, and other stakeholders to review progress, discuss lessons learned and challenges, identify new approaches and solutions, and consider opportunities for enhanced collaboration.

I thank you Mr. President