PLATFORM for REDESIGN 2020 Skip to main content
Open and close navigation

Policies, measures and actions on climate change and
environmental protection in the context of COVID-19 recovery.

Iran

Last update 2 Sep. 2020

Message

Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Head of the Department of Environment

Issa Kalantari

Issa Kalantari speaking

No video Check the text message
on the bottom.

Watch video Opens in new window

Categories

How We Collected Data from Countries & Regions [PDF : 41KB] Opens in new window

Response
Emergency measures in the short term (a few months to one year) to address concerns that have directly emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and may include forced action.
Recovery
Socioeconomic measures in the medium term (one to a few years) with an environmental and climate focus to “build back better” from COVID-19, and usually involves planned, intentional action.
Redesign
Paradigm shifts and measures in the long term (more than a few years to a few decades) toward redesigning current socioeconomic and sociocultural systems to be sustainable and resilient.

1.Climate mitigation measures

  • Sustainable transportation

    Response Recovery Redesign
    Increasing the number of public transportation fleet (buss and subway):
    As an increasing population use public transportation in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, adhering to social distancing will turn into a farfetched goal. Keeping a safe distance between passengers becomes almost impossible if the number goes higher, say 450,000. Therefore, it is critically important to increase the number of public transportation fleet in Megacities. Therefore, this is planned to increase the capacity of public transportation which has co-benefits of green recovery from COVID-19.
    Reference https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/102912/public-transport-commuters-surge-as-businesses-reopen-in-tehranOpens in new window
    Contact Ministry of the Interior

  • Building sector

    Response Recovery
    Work from home for 1/3 of the workforce:
    Since March 2020, aiming to keep more people at home; many government employees work from home and civil servants with sensitive jobs that are vital for the public will be allowed to work from the office. Later this number reached to 1/3 of the workforce since July 2020. This reduces the energy consumption from transportation and at the work places while keeping people safe from the pandemic.
    Reference https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran/half-of-iranian-government-employees-to-work-remotely-amid-coronavirus-rouhani-idUSKBN21B0SROpens in new window
    Contact Government

  • Technological innovation (digitalization / hydrogen/ CCUS‚ etc.)

    Response Recovery Redesign
    study of Introduction and use of EV for Habitat and Wildlife Conservation
    The core values
    - Intergenerational Justice in a responsible and sustainable utilization of the resources of the seas, coasts and islands;
    - marine protection and preservation of the environment;
    - Respect to the rights of all marine life species and protect their interests within the framework of ethics
    Policies
    - Comply with the requirements of environmental, land use planning principles, and crisis management in the development of maritime activities;
    - Sustainable and protective utilization of marine resources and ecosystems;
    - Make the Sea buffer zone coast frontage free which is illegally occupied at least ten percent of the country beaches;
    - At least ten percent increase of environmental protected areas of beaches, islands and seas and promoting conservation of existing areas in compliance with international standards;
    Goals
    - Make the Sea buffer zone coast frontage free which is illegally occupied at least ten percent of the country beaches;
    - At least ten percent increase of environmental protected areas of beaches, islands and seas and promoting conservation of existing areas in compliance with international standards;
    National strategies and actions
    - Complete, update and enhancing systems, rules, regulations and standards by the relevant authorities:
    - Refine marine rules and regulations Marine with a facilitation approach, synergy, increase competitiveness and integration tasks homogeneous up to two year
    Contact Department of the Environment

  • Technological innovation (digitalization / hydrogen/ CCUS‚ etc.)

    Response
    Development of digital tourism:
    The tourism economy in Iran has been heavily hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and measures introduced to contain its spread. Therefore, Iran that reached 55.8% usage of Digital Travel Sites in 2018, now put more effort on this.
    Reference http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/724941581621885483/pdf/Digital-Platforms-and-the-Demand-for-International-Tourism-Services.pdfOpens in new window
    Contact Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts

2.Climate adaptation measures

  • Adaptation planning

    Recovery Redesign
    Preparation of National Adaptation Plan in Health Sector:
    Based on the management decisions of Iran government such as social isolation, quarantining,
    screening methods, and flight suspensions due to the severity and anonymity of COVID-19, it is highly assured that the best strategies and the most successful approaches are on effect to confront the present pandemic. Iran put in place timely and strict measures to halt the spread and diminish its unintended deadly consequences. New virus spreads such as the COVID pandemic, which might be related to the increased temprature, is considered as one of the main elements of the national adaptation plan which is already in pipeline.
    Contact Department of Environment / Ministry of Health

  • Adaptation planning

    Response
    Cosidering the enhancing remote sensing equipment's in the protected areas and maximizing remote controlling and using new methods of monitoring in the protected areas:
    On 22 April 2020 Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched a small satellite – the Noor-1 (Farsi for ‘Light’) – on a previously unseen satellite launch vehicle called the Qased. This satelite will help the country in remote controlling the protected areas. This benefit for reducing the adverse impacts of the climate change on national ecosystem heritages will also benefit the health of the employees who are responsible for in-site monitoring of the climate change events in the protected areas.

  • Adaptation planning

    Response Recovery
    Climate change impact assessment conducted every five years to include infectious disease impactsClimate change impact assessment conducted every five years to include marine acidification Marine environment is one of priority areas to conduct climate change impact assessment. Humans should respect to socially equitable and environmentally sustainable economic use of the seas. The assessment of hazards on marine and coastal livelihoods is essential for maintenance of marine life. This also play an important role in climate change mitigation and adaptation and there is potential for communities to reduce their Carbon emissions.
    Contact Department of the Environment & National Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences

3.Cross-cutting measures

  • Sustainable finance (public/private)/market mechanisms/carbon pricing

    Recovery Redesign
    Finance for IT and digital start-up activities:
    Iran’s startup scene is rapidly growing and holds great potential. A very special focus is made in propmotion of IT technologies which reduces transportation and energy consumption and will aslo benefit the public society for receiving governmental and private services, remotely.
    Contact Vice Presidency for science and technology

  • Citizens’ lives (behaviour change) / employment

    Response Recovery Redesign
    Development of digital economic activities (e.g., online shoping, remote medical services, etc.):
    While many struggle to keep their businesses afloat startups and online shopings are cashing in on the health crisis by offering much-needed medical services. Online shopping platforms have also seen a boom in turnover at a time when internet has become the safest way for shopping and window-shopping amid social distancing. This reduces transportation and energy consumption and will aslo benefit the public society for receiving governmental and private services, remotely.
    Contact Ministry of Economics

  • Citizens’ lives (behaviour change) / employment

    Response Recovery
    Virtual education through digital platforms developed and applied by the government:
    In response to Iran’s coronavirus outbreak in late February, one of the government’s first actions was to close schools and universities on March 5, helped the education of millions of students from home. Schools are encouraged to build their structure for next school year. This reduces transportation and energy consumption and will aslo benefit the public society for receiving education services, remotely.

    Reference https://www.presstv.com/detail/2020/04/21/623509/iran-launches-online-learning-application-amid-virusOpens in new window
    Contact Ministry of Education

  • Citizens’ lives (behaviour change) / employment

    Response Recovery Redesign
    Increased number of virtual training courses:
    In response to significant demand due to COVID-19 which has resulted in schools shut , many online learning platforms are offering in Iran. Education has changed with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms since. This reduces transportation and energy consumption and will aslo benefit the public society for receiving education services, remotely. This also reduces the costs of the training programs and enhances the education equity in the country.
    Reference https://www.presstv.com/detail/2020/04/21/623509/iran-launches-online-learning-application-amid-virusOpens in new window
    Contact Government

  • Citizens’ lives (behaviour change) / employment

    Response
    Increase in industrial and small-scale production of goods demanded for COVID-19 response (Masks, Ventillators, Sanitizers, etc.):
    Many provinces in Iran are self-sufficient in mask production and again following a second wave of infections since July 6th 2020 Iran banned export on face masks. Besides the government helps increase production of goods in industrial and small-scale to combat COVID-19. This new area of small business helps in acting against the pandemic and also promotes the decentralized economy as a measure to mitigate the climate change in the economy-side emission reduction target.
    Contact Ministry of Health

  • Governance

    Response Recovery Redesign
    Promotion of digital governmental services:
    Iran’s progress towards achieving e-government is developing successfully, and the evolution is becoming more dynamic and planned. There is the commitment of all appropriate authorities and decisions makers both public and private such as administrative departments, educational establishments, finance and political authorities, legislators and media. Moving toward a successful implementation of e-government and computerization of existing systems needs fundamental arrangements in order to use the existing possibilities and resources Achieving this process needs the government organizations effort. This reduces transportation and energy consumption and will aslo benefit the public society for governmental services, remotely. This also reduces the costs of the services and enhances the equity in the country.
    Contact Government

  • Governance

    Response
    Utilization of Remote Sensing tool for marine life conservation
    Objectives
    - Provide a tool to marine life conservation
    - Engage in research that seeks to improve knowledge and provides base for the development of robust policy and finance mechanisms;
    - Establish best practice and disseminate information on marine life conservation;
    - Seek to develop partnerships with other Organizations that can assist with implementation of activities that meet these objectives.

    Benefits to Country
    - The Remote Sensing tool for marine life conservation will seek to support the country in the following ways:
    - Acting as a useful tool, assisting country to understand how protect and restore its marine ecosystems which are suitable for conservation
    - Provide an additional mechanism of support for implementation Remote Sensing tool in marine monitoring
    Contact Department of the Environment & National Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences

4.Other environmental measures

  • Other environmental pollution countermeasures

    Response Recovery
    Improved indoor air ventilation systems for indoor air quality cobenefit of COVID-19 exposure control measure:
    An important approach to lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants or contaminants including any viruses that may be in the air is to increase ventilation – the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Ensuring proper ventilation with outside air can help reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants, including viruses, indoors. Following this fact Iran is facilating it's govermental buldings and offices with proper equipments.
    Contact Government

  • Measures related to ecosystem services / biodiversity / land use / agriculture

    Recovery Redesign
    Controlled eco-tourism align with ecological capacities in rural areas:
    In order to control the spread of the pandemic in rural areas, the travel to these destinations is restricted by the government. This also reduces the extra ecological pressure on the eco-tourism in the rural areas of Iran, which is highly vulnerable and damaged from the adverse effects of the climate change.
    Contact Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts

Other countries

How We Collected Data from Countries & Regions [PDF : 41KB] Opens in new window

Messages from
Non-state Stakeholders
View Message View Message