The Environment Protection Supreme Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, headed by the President and having as members a group of the ministers and high-ranking directors, was initiated in 1993 to establish the National Committee on Sustainable Development (NCSD). The NCSD consists of 18 qualified representatives from ministries and governmental organizations, and aims to develop a national strategy for sustainable development and persevere in investigating and following up on inter-sectoral activities achieved accordingly by the various institutions and sectors. Through the adoption of a uniform all–inclusive policy, the committee works towards attaining the objectives set in “Agenda 21” at the Earth Summit in Rio (1992).

Although the implementation of such a broad policy has faced numerous hurdles and obstacles within the past decade, relatively successful accomplishments in various sectors have indicated a favourable trend as a whole. The reform era beginning in 1997, in particular led to the serious integration of principles of sustainable development in the planning and decision-making processes of the country. The strong economic reform and growth policies ,coupled with the unanimous determination of a flourishing civil society created conditions conducive to integrating policies of ecologic social and economic sustainability in all social functions and at all levels of decision-making.

The Third Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran has a well integrated approach on sustainable economic policy and has paved way for a mainstream approach to environmental considerations in various sectors. The Environment Impact Assessment Article of this Law is an important legislative measure concerning all large economic or industrial projects in the country. Also since 1998 all development projects require an environmental feasibility study alongside economic and technical studies.

The achievements of the country as a relatively young religious democracy facing many social political and economic challenges are unique and worthwhile for due consideration

A summary of those accomplishments are as follows:

1. During the First, Second, and Third National Socio–Economic Development Plans, an objective economic policy to address the issue of poverty and underdevelopment in the country was pursued. Providing the public with minimum basic living standards , creating employment opportunities and eradicating poverty have been focused on by the Government authorities. Through the quotas system for distribution of staple commodities as well as stable pricing mechanisms to ensure the relative price of basic food commodities, due support has been extended to consumers, especially the low–income classes. Also underprivileged and vulnerable groups have been supported by the extension and improvement of the social welfare system across the country, by the institutionalization of food security, and by the introduction of appropriate “food baskets” to families. The Third Development Law provides a clear direction for reducing and targeting subsidies so the marginalized and vulnerable members of society would benefit more. Also the development of a comprehensive welfare network, including the insurance and pension systems are underway.

Moreover, the Government has made considerable investments in the fields of education, health care and medical services, technical and vocational training, and the provision of support services for the destitute in both urban and rural areas, leading to the improvement of education indexes, literacy rates, health care and rural development indexes, which have all been clearly indicated in international statistical documentation. One of the significant achievements in this regard is the improvement of educational and social indicators for women and the narrowing of gender gaps in areas such as literacy and health.

2. The Petroleum sector in Iran has a pivitol role in the country’s economic growth and development.During the past years the sector has taken a responsible approach to integrate environmental standards and to comply to national environmental regualtions. Dealing with obsolete technologies in refineries and oil excavation facilites has made this process technically very difficult and expensive . However in light of the strong legislative backing which gives the Department of the Environment the authority to take legal measures and sue cases of non-compliance, the Petroleum sector has moved to enhance its environmental performance. Several refineries and petrochemical plants throughout the country have established the ISO 14000 Environment Management Systems.

 

3. The Islamic Republic of Iran, recognizing the close relationship between poverty and environment degradation and the impacts of excessive demands for goods and the wasteful consumption patterns on the environment, took to establish , four years before the Rio Summit (1989), the Supreme Council for Investigation and Determination of Consumption Patterns headed by the First Vice President .

The Council established working committees and expertise groups on water, energy, transportation and communications, medicines, food, clothing and housing with an aim to introduce proper consumption patterns and propagate the culture for the sustainable use of resources, leading simple lives, and combating excessive consumption. In this regard, the committees have regularly communicated guidelines and policies to concerned institutions for implementation. Reports indicate that changes in policy and practice have resulted in progress particularly in fields such as energy, and water consumption. The recycling committee has played an important role in advancing this policy at the national level.

 

4. The decrease in population growth in Iran within the past ten years has been unprecedented and remarkable as it has reduced from about 3% to 1.41%. In this context, the Law for Family Planning and Birth Control was ratified in 1994 with the objectives of reducing the price of public welfare; making a balance between the economic development and population growth; augmenting the national economy, promoting sound cultural values, health care, mental health; and, as a result, reducing poverty and ensuring happiness and prosperity among families. A plan has been followed up closely in raising awareness among women about high–risk pregnancies (those below 20 and above 35 years of age as well as those with short intervals between pregnancies) and reducing unwanted pregnancies. Accordingly, the fringe benefits and increments payable to each household for children do not apply to any children after the thirdborn. In line with all the above–mentioned measures, education regarding population growth and birth control have been disseminated among the society through the mass media, and been included in the educational syllabus of schools and universities. The successful convergence of political and religious authorities on this important matter has led Iran to serve as a successful international model in this regard. Religious education, the high regard held in Iran for family values , and ethics has rendered Iran to be considered as one of the most relatively clean countries in terms of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, although precuationary and health measures are still lacking.

 

5. Included in the Constitutional Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, there are several Principles according to which the Government is bound to facilitate the improvement of health indicators among the society. On this basis, the whole health care services, ie preliminary health care, public hygiene trainings ,improvement of nourishment and food consumption, provision of sufficient hygienic water, rehabilitation of the people’s living areas, birth control services, health care for mothers and children, vaccination against common infectious diseases, prevention and control of epidemic and endemic diseases, proper medical care to cure the diseases and manage accidents, and the preparation for and distribution of major and most–required pharmaceuticals are done through the national medical services network system.The following are examples of the services extended to people:

• Infantile tetanus and leprosy have been eliminated, and measles, diphtheria and pertussis are under control. Also, polio is on the verge of eradication in Iran.

• The incidence of tuberculosis and malaria has also decreased remarkably.

• A plan to control blood products has been implemented in Iran since 1986. From the beginning of the global AIDS epidemic until 1996, 314 HIV+, 119 cases of suffering from AIDS, and 8 cases of ARC have been reported, of which 102 cases ended with death at the stage of disease expression. The number of people with AIDS reached 1370 in 1998.

• Regarding hepatitis B, Iran stands at the range medium epidemies, and the recent reports indicate a decrease in incidence of “hepatitis B”.

• Other eradicated/controlled diseases are: anthrax, brucellosis and schistosomiasis.

• Regarding hydatidosis and rabies, there is still problem in the country. On the other hand, however, cholera and typhoid fever have been controlled to a satisfactory level. Also, the rate of deaths from pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus have decreased remarkably. As for meningitis, vaccination is practiced in those societies in which the risk is high.Iran has received international recognition for its achievements for child health and the objectives set by    the WHO for the year 2000 were attained by Iran well ahead of schedule.

6. International and regional cooperation has been a important priority for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has played an effective and instrumental role in the development of international instuments such as the Ramsar Convention in 1971, and the Kyoto Protocol in 1998-2001 ( The Convention on Forests and the Convention for the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea are instruments which are yet underway and Iran has played a key role in their developemt. As the President of the G77 Iran had a key role in preparing grounds for consensus on the practical aspects of the Kyoto Protocol in the Bonn and Marakesh Negotiations. Iran has also submitted its First National Communication to the UNFCCC, the report has be received with appreciation and positive commments. Iran has signed and ratified the Convention on Biodiversity and has submitted its First and Second National report to the CBD. The Islamic Republic has signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosaftey and the Stockholm Convention on POPs. Iran has joint cooperation memoranda in the fields of environment protection and sustainable development with several regional and European countries and joint projects on issues of mutual interest have been completed or are underway. Iran has been actively involved in the regional and global preparations for the WSSD. At the subregional level Iran has engaged in prepartaory activities with the South West Asian region and at the level of the Asia Pacific preparatory activities Iranian cooperation has been significant.With regard to sustainable development and protection of the ozone layer , the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has take serious measures and voluntarily registered as a member of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol while establishing the Ozone Layer Office. The main achievements in this regard are as follows:

• Developing a national inventory and projects to receive funds from the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund;

• Accomplishment of the first pledge on the part of the Government to the Montreal Protocol to fix at a stable level the rate of consumption of Freons;

• Absorption of about 30 million dollars for the equipment of refrigerating industries with modern technologies;

• Encouragement and support of the industries which use ozone–depleting chemicals to change their production lines in a way to convert to ozone – friendly technologies;

• Establishment of the National Ozone Layer Committee and the development of a national programme for the elimination of ozone – depleting chemicals;

• Investigation of the Plan for Identifying the Executive Measures to Comply with the Montreal Protocol at the national level.

7. Covered with 12.4 million hectares of forests, the Islamic Republic of Iran is, according to the FAO classification, among those countries with low forest vegetation, standing as the 45^th place out of 56 such countries. During the past decade, some main plans have been implemented to rejuvenate Iran’s forests, including: removing grazing cattle from forests, expansion of reforestation, cultivation of wooden trees, development of parks and floral reserves, and the development and execution of the Forestry Plan. Since 1997 more than 1.2 million hectares of pristine forests (10% of total forest cover) have been officially included as protected areas in the management programs of the Department of the Environment according to the decree of the Supreme Council of the Environment. Also the government adopted a bill in 2001 indicating the government’s resolve for the sustainable management and protection of the country’s natural forests.According to current legislation any new forest management project would require a environment impact assessement study before adoption.

 

8. Out of the 164 million hectares of Iranian territory, 34 million ha are covered with deserts and arid lands of which some 12 million ha of these lands is covered with active running sands. Accordingly, the national Desertification Combat Programme for Controlling Running Sands has been put into action in four main projects of sapling plantation, seed plantation, seed scattering, and mulching. As a result of these measures, over 4 million ha of the desert lands has been rehabilitated or the desertification trend has been controlled. An international research center on this matter has been established inYazd in 2000.

 

9. Some 70% of the total 400 billion m3 of precipitation water is mainly received by the Alborz and Zagros chains of mountains lying on the north and west of the Iranian territory, respectively, and also by the mountains scattered in other areas. Up to the present, 7138 watershed management projects have been implemented over 2240 villages at a total area of 10 million hectares. Protection and management plans for the country’s wetlands are currently underway and the government has adopted a short and long term policy to manage drought conditions. These preventive and compensation policies have been effective in controlling the damage inflicted on the country,s ecosystems and biodiversity. Water conservation policies and proper use in the agricultural sector specifically need to be pursued.

 

10. The Caspian Sea on the north and the Persian Gulf on the South have always been a focus of attention for the Government, as in the past decade, the development and implementation of the Marine Environment Research Project, including the oceanography of the Persian Gulf, Oman Sea and the Caspian Sea, study of the strategically significant coastal areas, and the establishment of research stations adjacent to coastal regions for the collection and preparation of samples and the measurement of chemical, physical and biological parameters has been achieved successfully.

Moreover, Iran is an active member of the CEP (the Caspian Sea Environment Programme) and ROPME (Regional Organization for Protection of Marine Environment) and spares no effort in coordination with the neighbouring member states to monitor and systematize the development process in both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf marine environments. The protection of biodiversity in these regions has been followed and the most significant Sturgeon breeding and protection project has been underway during the past years the Iranian coast of the Caspian sea.

 

11. Iran has undertaken a serious strategy regarding the protection of biodiversity in Iran., A Steering Committee consisting of the representatives of several concerned ministries, organizations and several NGOs have been established. As a result of the efforts of the Committee, due interaction and coordination has been organized with the whole administrative and political systems of the country, and the required attention and national consensus has been developed in the nation with regards to the necessity of biodiversity preservation. Nowadays, the word “biodiversity” is well recognized by Iranian people and well embedded into the public culture as a result of the educational activities, publicities and dissemination through the mass media. Several endangered species such as the Asiatic Cheetah , the Siberian Crane, the Houbara Bustard , the Yellow Iranian Deer and the Marine Turtles are protected by nationwide protection schemes.

 

12. During the past decade, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made remarkable achievements in the electricity, energy, and water and sewage treatment sectors.

As regards the electricity sector, the following instances are worth mentioning:, reformation of the administrative structure and foundation of electricity production, distribution and exploitation companies over 25 provinces, entrusting the private sector with the whole activities of the consultative, representative and service departments, establishment of non-governmental companies, eliminating the electricity shortage and attaining a production surplus in compliance with the international standards; and, development of the National Dispatching Plan over the capital city and six other main areas.

As regards the energy sector, the Third Development Law has a comprehesive article on “Optimising Energy Consumption” This strategy has been effectively pursued through the adoption of sustainable practice and policy in the energy sectors .The following have been accomplished so far: saving and recycling energy in large industries, research in the field of renewable sources of energy, foundation of energy data banks, collaboration with the World Energy Council establishment of energy research centers, determination of solar energy and wind power potentials in the country, foundation of the New Energies Organization, and establishment of the Supreme Energy Council as an intersectoral coordinating council for policy and decision making authority on energy issues in addition to the energy sectors the Department of the Environment is also a permanent member of the Council.

Regarding the water and sewage treatment sector, the following main measures have been achieved: establishment of quality control centers to provide sufficient water for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes; making new capacities through construction of diversion dams and pumping stations; converting to new technologies such as the artificial rain harvest by cloud seeding; foundation of the National Water Museum; amendment of administrative structure; and, establishment of a decentralized management system. The high annual growth rate and increase in budgets related to establishmentment of water and sewage treatment facilities throughout the country is indicative of sound policy in this regard.

 

13. The increase of the urban population in Iran is one of the crisis–making factors that puts the natural environment, hygiene quality and public health at risk. Unfortunately, failure to properly assess the appropriate places for dumping urban wastes and garbage often leads to the leakage of exudates into the underground water sources, thus contaminating them. Such adverse environmental impact is a result of the unfavorable state of the urban waste management system throughout the country. To eliminate problems like this, a branch of the National Committee on Sustainable Development named the Hazardous Wastes Sub-committee was established in 1993 which has succeeded in addressing some of the related issues so far.

There are 850 towns and cities in Iran which accomodate above 45% of the total population. This urban population produces 32,000 tonnes of home garbage per day which amounts to 2 million tonnes annually. Also, the main portion of industries, workshops and production centers which use various, sometimes toxic chemicals is located on the outskirts of these cities. Each day, tens of thousands of tonnes urban wastes including industrial effluents and hospital wastes are collected together with home garbages by different means and dumped in landfills. Within the past decade, considerable training activities have been run in order to improve solid waste management, and relatively considerable resources have been allocated for this purpose.

In line with this objective, a Law on Wastes and Residues has been developed, and the on-site sorting of the urban garbage is now practiced. The project for recycling PET bottles into fibers and the recycling of used car oil and used tires are all now under implementation by the private sector. Several compost and production of organic fertilizer projects have been successful in recycling the urban wastes of large cities.

 

14. The number of young people in Iran amounts to 12 million, which is 20.5% of the total population of 60 million. It is predicted that the number will increase to more than 16 million in the year 2006. Iran is one of the youngest countries of the world and therefore the Government cares for the issues related to young people with great consideration and emphasis. The National Organization for the Youth, is the national headquarter which has the responsibility of coordinating the general policies of the government with the affairs and issues related to the younger population. The Organization has successfully attained the following goals:

• Arousing the sensitivity of the public and private sectors towards the issues of youth as one of the most important challenges for the country to face at present and in the future.

• Putting effort towards making use of the capabilities of the various sectors in solving the youth’s concerns.

• Paying special attention to the affairs related to youth when developing national macro-policies by including their affairs into the plans, programmes and policies to be followed by concerned social institutions, organizations and headquarters councils.

• Conducting research and up-to-date studies on the issues of interest of young people and their concerns.

• Preparing grounds for the effective integration of youth in social and political processes of the country.

15. Provision of education and intellectual development, producing social balance and ensuring equal and appropriate opportunities for every class of the society to obtain proper education have always been amongst the main issues of care and concern for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this context, remarkable success has been attained. Including: ensuring nationwide access to free education for ages from 6 to 16; reduction of illiteracy rates among the elderly; increasing the number of schools, students, and special schools for the education of exceptional children; increasing the number of students among rural societies and nomadic tribes, the number of rural schools and the top government-run schools; expansion of skills training; extension of technical and vocational schools; and integrating voluntary participation in establishing educational institutions.

 

16. Inspired by “Agenda 21” in which “global action in favour of women for a fair sustainable development” is emphasized, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has paid specific attention to the improvement of women’s role in the attainment of sustainable development. In this regard, the Office for Women’s Affairs, affiliated to the Presidential Department, was founded in 1993 and headed by a woman who hold the post of Advisor to the President. The Office organizes all activities related to women within the public sector, provides gender analysis as a means to influence policy and has recently allocated a specific budget line and policy to narrow gender gaps in various social educational and economic sectors. Moreover, after the Fourth International Women’s Conference in Beijing in 1997, the Office for Women’s Affairs developed an Action Plan for the Women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, several significant measures have been taken so far.

At present, a woman Vice President is the Head of the Department of the Environment and member of the Cabinet. Four women have been appointed as deputy ministers in the Ministry of Health, Interior Ministry, Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education. Most ministries have offices for women’s affairs while two offices at the Ministry in charge of rural affairs are responsible for providing environmental training to rural women. Young women constitute a great number of university graduates in the various majors related to the environment.

The ground has been paved for women’s participation in decision-making regarding the national and regional environment, and it has been put into action within the framework of the programme: “National Will for the Protection of the Environment” developed and executed since 1998.

At present, 240 women’s NGOs are active in the field of development affairs. Over 110 women’s rural cooperatives have been established with an aim to give social and economic power to women who are, at the same time, supporters of the environment protection goals. The number of literate women has increased from 35.5% in 1976 to 75.2% in 1997, for which the First Prize by UNESCO was granted to Iran. In the Iranian Parliament 14 women have been elected to serve constituencies from a wide geographic and ethnic range. In 1998 more than 350 women were elected to serve alonside their male counterpart in rural and municipal councils.

 

17. Despite the presence of so many hindrances and problems on the way of the social movement of the civil society, the favourable conditions of the society particularly after 1997 resulted in a significant upsurge in the number and activity of non governmental organizations and community based groups . These groups can be classified in four broad and overlapping fields;

    Women focussed NGOs currently more than 250 NGOs are active on

    women’s issues including social , cutural , health and educational affairs.

    Health and Family Planning NGOs several groups have been active at the national and regional level in this regard

    Environment NGOs The data bank of the Department of the Environment has registered more than 200 NGOs active in areas pertaining to sustainable development , natural resources conservation and environmental protection.

    Accordingly, one of the most significant actions taken in the field of public participation has been the foundation of over 30,000 Urban and Rural Islamic Councils which are entrusted with the mandate of managing local affairs and promoting sustainable development through social mobilization and sound economic practices. The Councils received their full authority in 1998, and are effective elements in the arenas of local planning and decision–making thus realizing the people’s presence, supervision and participation in all aspects of social life.