How is Iran affected by Climate Change?

Iran is one of the top 10 Carbon emitters in the world and so has been magnifying the scale and speed of climate change in the world.

Due to its geographical location, Iran is subject to high temperatures and low precipitation which have led to water scarcity across the country. Global warming estimates show that Iran is expected to suffer from increased water scarcity and has already experienced a 0.7-degree Celsius rise in temperature and a decreasing trend in precipitation. In contrast, Iran has suffered from natural disasters such as floods due to climate change, such as in the Fars and Khuzestan provinces.

Iran is also amongst the top countries with the highest rate of land degradation and desertification. Another climate change impact visible in Iran are sand and dust storms. As part of a wider regional climate issue, sand and dust storms will increasingly have adverse impacts on Iran’s economy, health, and environment.

The consequences of climate change directly and indirectly affect Iran’s economy. As such, research show that in climate zones like Iran, every one-degree increase in temperature reduces crop production in the sector of agriculture by 10%, which will clearly affect both the economy and food security in Iran.

There is a high demand to access water resources in all production and development sectors, and while this is affecting the economy, it is also pressuring Iran’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

Iran is facing massive climate-change challenges and UNDP in partnership with national and international partners is implementing projects that will mitigate some of its main climate issues, while tackling its adverse socio-economic impact such as displacement and increasing inequality.