COUNTRY PROFILE

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

UNEP CONTACT
Minister:
H.E. Dr. Fatimah Jawadim
Head, Department of the Environment
P.O. Box 5181, No. 187 Ostad Nejatollahi Ave.
Tehran 15875, Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: (98 21) 890 3720
Fax: (98 21) 890 8230, 890 3230

UNEP Focal Point: 
Dr. Parvin Maroufi (Ms.)
Director General
Public Relations & International Affairs ,Department of the Environment
P.O. Box 15875 IR, No. 187 Ostad Nejatollahi Ave.
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: (98-21) 890 3720, 890 1261, 890 8246
Fax: (98-21) 890 8230

 

COUNTRY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX*

Life expectancy at birth  2001............................................................69.8

Adult literacy rate 2001 (%)...............................................................77.1

GDP per capita (PPP$) 2001 ...............................................………6,000

Life expectancy index ......................................................................0.75

Education index ...............................................................................0.73

Human development index rank 2003 ………….............................106

* UNDP Human Development Report 2003

KEY FACTS*

Official title: Islamic Republic of Iran

Head of state:  Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (since June 1989)

Head of government: President Seyed Mohammad Khatami (since August 1997)

Ruling party: 

Area: 1,648,000 sq km

Population: 68,278,826 (July 2003 est.)

GDP real growth: 5% (2002 est)

Membership of international organizations: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO.

Expiry of GC membership: 31/12/2007

* The World Factbook 2003


INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON ENVIRONMENT

Iran is a party to:

  • Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (entered into force on 1/1/1991)
  • Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (entered into force on 1/1/1991)
  • RAMSAR Convention 1971 on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat
  • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
  • Convention on Biological Diversity
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol
  • Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

The title of Green Government or Green State was chosen less than a decade ago by states opting for sustainable development and preventive action as the way forward, in contrast to combating environmental predicaments after the fact.  Aims of the Green Government:

 1)   Enhancement of Energy Consumption:   Reduction in consumption of energy for lighting, Reduction in consumption of heating and air conditioning systems, increasing the efficiency of energy consuming systems and equipment.

 2)   Enhancement of Water Consumption: Reduction in water consumption in various sectors,  Increasing the efficiency of water consuming systems, Separating the irrigation system from the urban water network.

3)  Enhancement of Paper Consumption: Reduction in consumption of paper and promoting paper recycling,
Designing electronic systems and replacing paper work systems.

4)  Reduction of Solid Wastes and Recycle of Solid Wastes: Reduction of solid wastes by following the Green Purchase Guidelines (for the least amount of environmental wastes) and more efficient usage of material, 
Maximum recycling of solid wastes.

5)    Improvement of Public Transport System: Designing optimum systems for the transportation of the employees, Modifying and improving the efficiency of governmental organizations’ transportation vehicles.


MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

Environmental Protection and Enhancement Law

Pastures and Forestry Law

National Clean Air Act

Game and Fish Law

The Plant Protection Law

The Forest Law

Year

1974

1975

1967

1967

Purpose

ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONS

Environment Protection Agency

Department of Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
 In order to implement the decision of Environment Protection High Council made on 23rd March 1994, the guideline for preparing report on environmental impact assessment (EIA) was issued.  The guideline, consisting of 10 Articles and 8 notes, was ratified by the High Council of Environment protection on 23rd Dec. 1997.

KEY ENVIRONMENT ISSUES

Air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization.

NGOs Active in Environmental Activities